What is the role of bitts on a ship?

Bitts are heavy posts or pillars on a ship used primarily to secure mooring lines and towing lines. Their design allows for strong and stable attachment points that can withstand the forces exerted by the lines, particularly when the ship is docking or being towed. Securing the mooring lines to the bitts ensures that the vessel remains safely tied to a dock or buoy, preventing it from drifting due to wind or current.

This function is critical for maintaining the safety and stability of the ship during cargo operations and while at berth. The other choices pertain to different aspects of naval operations: fuel storage is managed in specialized tanks, stabilization is typically the role of keels or ballast, and adjusting sails is more relevant to sailing vessels that utilize rigging systems, rather than the bitts themselves. Therefore, the primary and most appropriate role of bitts on a ship is indeed to secure mooring lines.