Nautical Term: Hawse hole
Definition of Hawse hole
A hawse hole is a cast steel tube located in the bow of a ship. This tube features rounded projecting lips both inside and out. A cable or chain passes through the hawse hole, providing a means for mooring or securing the ship to another vessel or to the shore.
For example, while docking a cargo ship, the crew uses a long mooring rope to secure the ship to the dock. The crew passes one end of the mooring rope through the hawse hole located in the bow of the cargo ship. The crew then uses the other end of the mooring rope to secure the cargo ship to the dock.
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