Mooring

Mooring refers to the operation of securing a vessel to a wharf, buoy, quay, or another vessel using ropes, anchor chains, or specialized mooring equipment. It is a fundamental step in international shipping and port operations. In foreign trade practice, mooring is often closely related to cargo loading and unloading, vessel entry and departure, demurrage/despatch calculations, and the allocation of Terminal Handling Charges (THC). Usage scenarios include: agreeing on mooring responsibilities between buyers and sellers or between shipowners and terminals, determining the starting point for laytime (e.g., 'laytime commences after the vessel is moored'), and off-hire clauses in charter parties. Precautions: it is necessary to clarify the party responsible for mooring (vessel, port, or cargo interest), whether mooring time counts toward laytime, and liability for delays caused by mooring failure; also distinguish 'mooring' from 'anchoring' (securing with an anchor) and 'berthing' (coming alongside a wharf) to avoid ambiguity in contracts or letters of credit. In addition, mooring equipment must comply with port state requirements; otherwise, it may affect operational safety and compliance.