When small boats attach themselves to the sides of large ships to be pulled along, how is this done?

Question

What do they attach to?

Answer 1

there is a line, called the painter or sea painter which runs from the bow of the small boat up to the deck where it is tied off to bollards or deck cleats. For a 30-40 foot boat it would be 3/4 or 1 '' nylon...........

Answer 2

They use hawser, really big rope, and hook to bollards on the deck.