A towline fuse device for use in a towing system with a towing vehicle and a towline is provided. The towline fuse device comprises a fuse mechanism for failing at a predetermined level of tensile force, the fuse mechanism mounted between the towing vehicle and the towline wherein the predetermined level of failure of the fuse mechanism is less than the towing ratings of the towing system. The strain energy in the towline is then harmlessly dissipated in the towline fuse device.