mooring buoy

A mooring buoy is a floating object anchored in a fixed location that serves as a point for vessels to tie up to, rather than anchoring directly. Unlike navigation buoys that guide or warn mariners, a mooring buoy's primary function is to provide a secure connection point for a ship's mooring chain or hawser. These buoys are attached to a permanent group of anchors via a heavy chain, acting as a link between the vessel and the seabed anchors. Using mooring buoys can be advantageous in crowded harbors as a moored vessel typically requires less space to swing with wind and tide compared to a vessel at anchor.12