Definitions #
The act of securing a ship to a fixed point such as a dock, buoy, or quay using lines or chains.
Technical The procedure of fastening a vessel with mooring lines to a berth or anchor point to prevent drift under wind, tide, and current while loading or discharging.
Example The berth officer reported the vessel's mooring was complete after six headlines and four stern lines were doubled up.
Etymology #
From Middle Dutch marren, meaning to tie or bind a vessel, plus the suffix -ing; related to the Old Norse moerrr (sea).
Collocations #
- mooring line 系泊缆绳
- mooring arrangement 系泊布置（系缆方式，如单点系泊或多点系泊）
Real Business Examples #
- The tugboats held the vessel steady while the harbour pilot initiated the mooring operation at buoy 4A.
- All crew members must wear protective gloves during mooring, as the synthetic lines can snap unexpectedly safely when under extreme tension.
Register & Variants #
- Register: formal
- BrE/AmE: 英式英语多用 mooring 指系泊处所；美式英语中更常用 'anchor and secure' 的说法
Synonyms & Antonyms #
- Synonyms: berthing (near synonym), fastening (non-technical)
- Antonyms: casting off, letting go
Common Errors #
- Using 'mooring' to refer to the anchor alone; anchoring is for temporary weather conditions, while mooring implies a fixed connection to the shore or structure. Use 'mooring' for secured to a dock/buoy; 'anchoring' when the vessel uses its own anchor to stay put.
- Confusing 'mooring the ship' with 'berthing' in the sense of paying for a berth; mooring is the physical act, not the commercial agreement. State the vessel is 'alongside the dock' or 'berthed' for cargo operations; 'mooring' is the specific operation.
Confusable Terms #
- anchorage vs Mooring
- An anchorage is the area where ships may anchor (typically where the seabed is safe); mooring refers to a fixed connection to a specific point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who performs the mooring operation at a port??
Usually the ship's crew lines up and casts the lines, while shore-based mooring gangs or tugboats carry the lines to bollards, depending on port practice.
Can a vessel moor to the open sea??
Yes, using a single-point mooring (SPM) buoy, often used for tankers loading or discharging offshore where is no jetty.
Published: 2026-10-04 Category: Shipping