Mooring

Mooring systems are used to secure a ship to a pier, wharf, mooring buoy, or another ship. Mooring systems include the lines, fenders, ship/pier fittings and related machinery that would be used to bring a ship into a moored configuration. In addition to the standard mooring configurations alongside a pier, wharf, or other ship; a variety of at sea mooring configurations can be employed which often utilize ship’s anchors. Most moorings are provided in harbors to provide a safe haven, reduce exposure to waves, reduce ship motions, and reduce dynamic mooring loads. Mooring in harbors also provides access to various services and other forms of transportation.

The purpose of a mooring is to safely hold a ship in a berth or in a certain position to accomplish a specific mission. Ship moorings are provided for:

• Loading/Unloading — Loading and unloading items such as stores, cargo, personnel, ammunition, etc.
• Maintenance/Repairs — Scheduled maintenance and simple repairs can be performed at sea. Certain actions require shore services, special parts, and outside assistance that can only be provided while moored.
• Mission — Moorings are used to support special mission requirements, such as surveillance, tracking, training, salvage, etc.
• Ship Storage — Ships in an inactive or reserve status are stored at moorings. This reduces costs to simple upkeep while ensuring the ship can be made available again if needed.