U.S. Navy Heavy Weather Mooring Criteria

It is standard procedure for U.S. Navy ships to go to sea prior to forecasted heavy weather, such as an approaching hurricane or major storm. However, some ships, such as ships under repair, ships under construction, harbor craft and other vessels may not be able to go to sea. These ships must be securely moored during heavy weather to piers, wharves or Fleet Moorings to ensure safety of the ships and surrounding structures and to prevent loss of life. Therefore, this report: (1) Proposes U.S. Navy heavy weather (Mooring Service Type 3) requirements by region. (Inactive, MSC and MARAD ships are not included in this report). (2) Recommends Navy wide heavy weather environmental design criteria applied to key Navy regions. (3) Provides technical guidance for the analysis, design, construction, and use of heavy weather mooring facilities.