How do moorings work?
The type of moorings used in Newport Harbor combine simple materials of great tensile strength with the power of gravity to hold a vessel in position. Heavy pieces of metal ballast require no mechanical connection to the sea floor. They can be hauled up, weighed and inspected by a mooring service contractor with a sturdy crane-carrying barge. In Newport Harbor, such service must be performed at the permit holder’s expense every other year. The mass of this type of mooring prevents it from being dragged no matter the direction of wind or tide. The specifications for shore and offshore moorings ensure that sufficiently sized ballast and chain are used. Due to gravity, heavy bottom chain resists being lifted, and lighter top chain secures the mooring buoy to the bottom chain and ballast without pulling the mooring buoy under the surface. Attached to the buoy, or directly to chain passing through the buoy, pendants made of nylon or dacron permit modest shock absorption in the event a vesse
