BOLLARD USED FOR BERTHING AND MOORING OF SHIPS

1.Introductions

Ship mooring and towing bitts are the core fixed points for vessel mooring and towing, used to secure the end of the rope and withstand the huge tension during berthing, anchoring, and towing, ensuring the stability of the ship position and operational safety.

2. Key functions

(1) Fixing the rope: Looping or knotting the end of the rope around the bitt and establishing a reliable connection between the ship and the dock/floating buoy.

(2) Withstanding tension: Withstanding continuous and instantaneous loads generated by wind, current, waves, and ship movement, and the design needs to meet safety margins far exceeding normal conditions. 

(3) Operating support point: Providing a stable force point during berthing, pushing, and towing, and cooperating with winches and cable guides to complete the mooring operation. 

(4) Distributing load: Through the base and the strengthened deck structure, evenly transferring the concentrated tension to the hull to avoid local overload.

3.Key points

(1) Installation location:

On the bow, stern, and left and right sides of the ship's midsection on the deck, adjacent to the cable guide, facilitating the rope extension and operation. 

(2) Common types: 

Double column/double cross, upright/angled, sheep's horn type, etc.; large and medium-sized ships commonly use double-column type, which has more balanced force distribution. 

(3) Materials and manufacturing:

Mainly cast steel/steel plate welding; oil tankers often use cast iron (to prevent sparks), and yachts mostly use bronze/stainless steel. 

(4) Standards and markings:

Comply with IMO MSC/Circ.1175/Rev.1 and ISO 13795 and other standards, clearly marking the safe working load (SWL), usually not less than 1.25 times the breaking strength. Differences from dock bitts - Ship bitts (Bitts): Fixed on the deck, transmitting and transferring the rope tension to the hull, being the fixed point at the ship's end. - Dock bitts (Bollard): Fixed on the shore, shared by multiple ships, being the fixed point at the dock end.

4.Main Parameters and Dimensions