Berthing

Berthing is the process of bringing a vessel to and securing it at a berth, a designated location alongside a quay, jetty, or wharf in a port or harbor. The berth provides access to cargo handling, passengers, or services and is sized for specific vessel classes. Berthing begins with approach and pilotage, followed by maneuvering the vessel to align with the berth and securing it with mooring lines and fenders to limit movement and protect the hull.

Mooring equipment includes bow and stern lines, spring lines to control fore-and-aft movement, chocks or bollards, and fairleads. Fenders are installed to absorb contact with the berth or neighboring vessels. Proper planning considers water depth, tidal range, weather, and the vessel’s stability and weight distribution. Crew and harbor personnel coordinate through a berth allocation plan, with tugs assisting large ships as needed, and safety measures such as gangway placement, lighting, and access control.

Berths vary by function and facility. Commercial berths include quay sides at container terminals, bulk or break-bulk cargo docks, tanker/dock facilities, and roll-on/roll-off ramps. Floating docks and marina slips provide berthing for vessels that do not require fixed infrastructure. The term mooring is related but distinct: mooring refers to securing a vessel to anchors, buoys, or fixed moorings away from a structure, while berthing describes the vessel’s alignment with and access to a fixed berth.

In naval usage, berthing also refers to the living quarters assigned to crew aboard a ship, known as berthing spaces or compartments.