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Cable is the term for the strong rope or chain used when anchoring. Cables can be made from chain, warp, or a combination of both.
Cable is also the term used for a line being used for towing, or in other rigging functions.
Unit of measure (distance)
A cable is a unit of distance traditionally used to measure short distances at sea. It is generally considered one-tenth of a nautical mile, which equals approximately 185.2 meters or 100 fathoms.
The length of a cable can vary depending on the standard used. In the British Navy, a cable is traditionally defined as 1/10th of a nautical mile (185.2 meters). In other contexts, mainly historical or regional, a cable's length could range from 169 to 220 meters, though this variation is less common in modern usage.
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