Abstract: A marine cable deployment apparatus for deploying marine seismic cable from a ship which reduces tension force on the cable at the cable storage reel when the cable storage reel (drum) is winding out the cable. Marine cable is subject to a longitudinal tension force which can damage the marine cable when it is deployed from a storage reel. The apparatus of this application reduces the longitudinal tension force on a portion of marine cable so that the portion of cable can be deployed from a storage reel. The apparatus includes a collar attached to the marine cable and a cable deployment tool which is placed around the marine cable. The cable deployment tool has dogs which engage the collar and a locking ring which holds the dogs in place. The cable is deployed with the deployment tool accompanying the deployed cable. A line between the deployment tool and the ship provides an opposing force to the longitudinal tension force on the cable trailing behind the collar.