Mooring bollards allow vessels to be secured in a berth using mooring ropes or hawsers.
It is usual to moor a vessel with the left side to the dock, hence this is the Port side. The name (port) comes from the french porter, meaning "to carry" as this was the loading/unloading side. This configuration is merely a legacy convention from when rowing boats were used and the oars were kept on the right side when berthing as most people are right handed and this would afford better control. Thus, the right side became the steer-board or starboard.
A typical mooring scheme
 |
| Number |
Name |
Purpose |
| 1 |
Head line |
Keep forward part of the ship against the dock |
| 2 |
Forward Breast Line |
Keep close to pier |
| 3 |
Forward Spring |
Prevent from advancing |
| 4 |
Aft Spring |
Prevent from moving back |
| 5 |
Aft Breast line |
Keep close to pier |
| 6 |
Stern line |
Prevent forwards movement |
Congrats to rtrich for FTF and Ridicully for STF