2.3.4 Stability. The floating pier must be capable of carrying 
all design loads while undergoing a minimal vertical displacement. The 
pier must be stable in all design environmental and applied loading 
conditions and must provide reserve buoyancy for damage control and sur- 
vival. The transverse stability of the pier (as indicated by the dis- 
tance between the center of gravity and the metacenter) and the overall 
buoyancy must be sufficient to compensate for flooding of two adjacent 
compartments. 
2.4 Mooring System 
2.4.1 Mooring System Design. A general requirement for the float- 
ing pier mooring system is to provide safe and efficient dock opera- 
tions. Environmental and ship impact forces must be considered. In 
general, the mooring system may be composed of both onshore and offshore 
portions. The onshore moorings terminate at deadmen and the offshore 
moorings terminate at anchors. The design of the moorings must assure 
the safe operation of the approachways for all possible environmental 
loadings. 
2.4.2 Fenders. The fender system protects both the vessel and the 
docking facility from damage resulting from relative motions between the 
two. Berthing forces are usually the most critical because loading is 
concentrated on the fender and its footprint, which represents a fairly 
small portion of the facility. The major factors involved in selecting 
the fender system are as follows: 
e@ Energy absorption of the fender 
® Reaction force exerted on both the pier and hull during impact 
@ Pressure exerted on the ships hull by the fender 
@ Size and berthing velocities of ships 
@ Magnitude of surge and wave action 
@ Capital and maintenance costs 
D-8 
