The two mooring dolphin concept for exposed tanker terminals

The conventional design for a tanker terminal provides for two or more mooring dolphins on each side of the breasting dolphins. Head and stern lines are attached to the outer mooring dolphins and breast lines to the inner mooring dolphins. In exposed locations, the expense of construction may be significantly reduced if a way can be found to reduce the number of mooring dolphins required for the safe mooring of ships at a fixed berth.This paper, based on studies for a proposed terminal for tankers from 25,000 to 100,000 DWT in the Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada, discusses the possibility of reducing the total number of mooring dolphins from four to two. Results of a static analysis of mooring loads due to wind and current and a hydraulic model test for mooring loads due to waves are presented.Operational aspects of the two mooring dolphin layout are discussed. It is concluded that the two mooring dolphin concept is an efficient mooring arrangement which will reduce the cost of fixed berth terminals. It is noted, however, that many of the smaller, older tankers in the world fleet do not have adequate mooring equipment to use such a berth and it is recommended that the necessary change in deck equipment be made to allow for such an arrangement. It is also recommended that ship personnel acquaint themselves with mooring procedures using breast and spring lines alone.