Abstract: A controllable hook assembly for retrieving a barge's towing bridle or broken tow cable while maintaining a safe standoff distance between the drifting vessel and the recovery vessel. It may also be used for emergency towing of a vessel adrift or otherwise in distress. The disclosed assembly consists of a bidirectional side-planing otterboard integrated with a retrieval/towing hook which is shackled to a recovery towline. The depth and lateral position of the towed assembly are controlled by the length of recovery towline and the speed of the recovery towing vessel, respectively.