Mooring

R. Shaw, M. Tsimplis, ‘‘The Liabilities of the Vessel’’, in Y. Baatz (Ed.), Maritime Law, 2nd edn

[9-002] The definition of ‘‘mooring’’. The definition of what constitutes a mooring has been discussed in many cases over the years.5 Lord Esher MR, in the 1897 case of Attorney-General v Wright,6 stated that ‘‘It is such a mode of anchoring a vessel by means of fastening in the ground, either an anchor or something heavy, and a chain and buoy, as will allow of the vessel picking up the buoy when she returns to it, and so coming to rest’’.7 The learned judge further stated that ‘‘every one knows who knows anything about navigation that there are two ways of anchoring a ship. There is the temporary anchoring by means of an anchor, which is lifted when necessary, and there is the more permanent mode by means of moorings’’.8