DOLPHINS: MOORING, BREASTING & BERTHINGMay 11, 2013A dolphin is an isolated marine structure for berthing and mooring of vessels. It is a common practice to combine dolphins with piers which drastically reduces the sie of piers.!olphins are generally divided into two types, namely breasting dolphins and mooring dolphins.Breasting dolpins ser!es te "ollo#ing p$rposes:"i# Assist in berthing of vessels by ta$ing up some berthing loads."ii# %eep the vessel from pressing against the pier structure."iii# &erve as mooring points to restrict the longitudinal movement of the berthing vessel.Mooring dolpins: As the name implies, are used for mooring only and for securing the vessels by using ropes. 'hey are also commonly used near pier structures to control the transverse movement ofberthing vessels.Mooring dolphins are single structures designed to ta$e care of the tension on a mooring line. In most cases these are provided to ta$e care of the longitudinal load due to slight surge of the vessel while moored.Access to a dolphin may be via a pedestrian bridge "mooring dolphins# but is usually by boat.'here is also (erthing dolphins which are at least a minimum of a pair which are designed to resist the lateral "sidewise, both compression and tension forces# load imposed on them by the moored vessel due to wind and wave. 'he vessel may abut directly on the dolphins or floating spacers called camels may be placed in between the vessel and the dolphins.!olphin berthing and mooring systems are commonly used where piers or )uays for doc$ing vessels are not available. Mooring dolphins may also be used in con*unction with short piers where the length of the vessels doc$ing on the pier normally e+tend beyond the length of the pier.,-.I/% 01-' A2'31-I'4 '1 205-A!, -16-1 I78-A&'-2/'2-,19th !ecember, 200:Improved berthing and increased capacity for ferries.;erwic$ 0ort Authority is to upgrade facilities at the 3olmsgarth terminal in a pro*ect to improve the handling of roll