Mooring bollards are important equipment used in marine operations. They are small posts found in harbors, docks, or ports to tie ships and boats. In other words, these posts serve as tie points to help keep boats and ships secured in the harbor. However, there are a few commonly used mooring bollards that you’ll see on almost every harbor or port.
Interestingly, the mooring bollards can vary in shape and size. Their effectiveness varies with size and shape. For example, larger mooring bollards are more suitable for securing large vessels, and vice versa. This article is all about the basics of mooring bollards. You’ll learn about the key types of these bollards and their applications.
What are Mooring Bollards?
Before discussing types, I will first discuss the basics of mooring bollards.
Mooring bollards are fixed structures located on ports, harbors, and jetties. These are metallic structures or posts where mooring lines are tied. Once the mooring lines are tied, the ships or vessels become secured and don’t drift away. These mooring bollards are very strong and can withstand harsh loads when ships or vessels are tied to them.
Without bollards to keep ships stationary, especially in bad weather, it will be very difficult. Look, harsh weather and winds bring waves and tides. These tides can make ships move and drift. If a ship drifts, it can collide with a nearby ship or vessel, resulting in accidents. That’s where the mooring bollards help during mooring and anchoring.
The mooring lines are tied to these bollards. As a result, the ship attached with mooring lines does not drift away even in harsh weather. Extreme waves or tides do not affect ships tied to bollards with mooring lines. These bollards are very helpful for securing boats, ships, and vessels.
Major materials used in the manufacture of these marine bollards include steel and cast or ductile iron. These materials are not only strong but also resistant to corrosion, making bollards last longer. There are different sizes of mooring bollards available, varying in strength and performance. Larger-sized mooring bollards are used to secure large vessels, and vice versa.
Why do mooring bollards stay firm when a ship tries to drift against the bollards? That’s because the mooring bollards are installed in strong concrete foundations. This concrete foundation keeps the bollard intact in its place. No matter how big the ship is, it won’t be able to take bollards out of the platform due to the strong concrete foundation.
Types of Mooring Bollards and Their Applications
In the past, people relied on weaker wooden bollards. They used to support only small boats. However, ships and boats are heavy-duty and require stronger mooring bollards. This led manufacturers to produce a wide range of bollards for different applications. In the section below, I will discuss the most common marine bollards with their ideal use case.
1- Single Bitt Bollard
Single Bitt Bollards are the simplest type used to secure small boats and lightweight ships to the dock or quay. They have a single vertical post directly attached to the dock platform. Since this mooring bollard has a single vertical post, few mooring lines can be tied to these bollards. This type of bollard is not ideal for a ship that requires multiple mooring lines to secure it.
You can only secure those boats or ships that require either one or two mooring lines. You’ll see people tying small fishing boats to these bollards. This is because these boats can be moored with a single mooring line or chain. Its single-post design affects its functionality but also makes it a budget-friendly option.
2- Double Bitt Bollard
Double-bitt bollards are a more advanced type than single-bitt bollards. Why? This is because these bollards are attached to two posts at the harbor. These posts are present in parallel. You can tie multiple mooring lines to bollards because of their dual-post design or structure. Load distribution is excellent in these bollards, making them suitable for larger ships.
These double-bitt bollards are also known as “Twin Horn” or “Twin” bollards. These mooring bollards are suitable for medium- to large-sized ships and boats. These ships can be securely tied using multiple mooring ropes. When it comes to pricing, these double-bitt bollards are more expensive than single-bitt bollards.
3- Tee Head Bollard (T-Head Bollard)
Tee Head Bollard is one of the most commonly used mooring bollards in modern marine operations. It is called a T-Head Bollard because of its shape. This bollard has a horizontal bar at its top. This bar forms a T at the top, giving these bollards a unique shape. Generally, the mooring lines are tied to the bollards, right?
However, you can wrap the mooring lines around these T-head bollards. As a result, the mooring lines remain secure and do not slip away even in harsh weather. When it comes to applications, these Tee Head Bollards are an ideal option to secure the heavy-duty cargo vessels and large ships. These mooring bollards are used in almost all the harbors that receive large ships and vessels.
4- Kidney Bollard
These mooring bollards are useful for small docks where waves and tides are not very extreme. They have a kidney-like shape, with one side curved. This curved shape is useful in keeping the strong connection between the mooring lines and the bollards. How? The reason is that this curved shape prevents mooring lines from slipping easily.
Additionally, you can also tie the rope without worrying about the sharp bending angle. Generally, kidney bollards are best suited for small to medium-sized ships. You can also use it for large vessels, but I don’t recommend it. The reason is that these large vessels require multiple mooring lines tied up with bollards. However, kidney bollards are not suitable for multiple lines due to their curved design.
5- Horn Bollard
I consider horn bollards an excellent option in cases where you need a strong connection between bollards and mooring lines. The reason is that these bollards come with two curved projections. These projections are also present at opposite sides of each other. Their upper sides are curved in opposite directions.
So you can tie and loop the mooring lines around these projections. Even with high tension on the mooring lines, they remain secure without slipping. Not only this, but you can also tie multiple mooring lines at a time, even from different angles and directions. Due to this, these horn mooring bollards can be used for a wide range of ships and vessels.
6- Staghorn Bollard
Staghorn bollards are the best option for harbors or ports that handle large vessels. The reason is that these bollards are strong and can hold multiple ropes tied together at once. These marine bollards feature multiple curved projections. Each projection is placed at a specific distance from the others.
This design resembles deer antlers and allows you to tie multiple ropes (lines) to them. Since they can handle multiple mooring lines, they can easily anchor large vessels. It is no mistake that staghorn bollards are a more advanced and practical option than horn bollards. However, these mooring bollards are slightly more expensive than other types.
7- Cleat Bollard
Cleat bollards are generally suitable for smaller boats and yachts. Why? The reason is that these bollards have only two curved projections, or arms. A single mooring line is tied and wrapped with these two projections at a time in an 8-pattern. This means there is less space for mooring lines, and the bollards cannot adjust multiple ropes.
As a result, their ability to anchor large vessels or ships is compromised. Remember, tying or wrapping the mooring lines to these cleat bollards is very easy. As a result, anchoring boats with these cleats is faster and less time-consuming. Apart from their ease of use, these marine bollards are also cost-effective.
8- Pillar Bollards
Pillar bollards are one of the simplest types among all the mooring bollards. They don’t have any projection or horn, which simplifies the design. They have a cylindrical structure that slopes slightly. The top section of these bollards is generally much thicker and looks more bulky.
However, the middle section is thinner and offers excellent ergonomics for tying mooring chain at this section. It is worth noting that these bollards are suitable for smaller boats and ships. Their simple design reduces long-term wear and tear, a significant benefit. This means you’ll be able to use these bollards for years to come without paying much for their maintenance.
Which Type of Mooring Bollards Should I Choose?
This is the most confusing question, and one can choose the wrong bollards for marine operations. The reason is that each available mooring bollard has its own pros and cons. One bollard cannot fit every harbor or port. You will have to consider multiple factors when choosing mooring bollards. These include:
- The size of the ships a harbor receives
- Weather conditions of a specific area
- Waves, tides, and how fast the wind blows
- Weight of ships (generally for cargo ships and vessels)
If the ship is bigger or is loaded with cargo, you’ll have to choose larger bollards with the ability to hold multiple mooring lines. Conversely, if the ships are smaller at the port, you will be fine to choose smaller bollards. These include pillar bollards, single-bitt bollards, or even cleat bollards. Similarly, these bollards also fit the port where tides or waves are not too extreme.
Imagine your selection of mooring bollards for busy harbors where the weather is uncertain, or the tides are harsh. In such a case, I recommend that you choose staghorn or Tee-head bollards. Why? That’s because these bollards can handle multiple mooring chains or lines. As a result, they can withstand harsh tides and handle large vessels with ease.
Conclusión
Let’s conclude – there are different types of mooring bollards. However, each of those is very specific in terms of the performance and specialty. I have covered the eight most common mooring bollards you’ll see more often. Interestingly, each of these marine bollards comes in different sizes. Smaller-sized bollards are suitable for smaller boats and vice versa. When choosing, select the bollards of the right size that fit your harbor’s needs.