Patent ID: 7367278

Claim:
A tow pin for guiding a cable onboard a vessel, the tow pin comprising: two cylinders independently moveable between raised and lowered positions by a first pair of separate hydraulic piston arrangements, and each cylinder including a rotary stopping element pivotable about a horizontal axis, the stopping elements of the cylinders are mounted on a horizontal shaft and adapted to be pivotable about said horizontal axis, to a position in which they are facing one another to prevent a cable running out of the tow pin, and to be driven into and out of position independent of the height position of the tow pin, by a second pair of separate hydraulic piston arrangements located within the associated cylinder, and each stopping element being turnable and lockable by said second pair of hydraulic piston arrangements, throughout a working range of movement of the associated cylinder of the tow pin, and each stopping element comprises a sideways, outwardly extending side surface engaging an inner stopping/support surface in the cylinder to take up forces imposed on the stopping elements.