Mooring Line Catenary Mechanics

Marine Engineering

How It Works

Offshore platforms and ships are anchored to the seabed using heavy catenary mooring chains. The static equilibrium profile of a flexible, uniform line under self-weight forms a catenary mathematical curve. Horizontal mooring restoring forces are developed as the platform drifts, lifting portions of the grounded chain off the seabed to increase the line's suspended weight and fairlead tension.

Governing Equation
y(x) = a · (cosh(x / a) - 1) , T(s) = T_H + w · y , a = T_H / w