Legal Definitions - moored in safety

The term moored in safety, in the context of marine insurance, describes a vessel that is securely fastened in a standard or customary location, such as a dock, harbor, or designated anchorage. Crucially, at this location, the vessel is not exposed to any immediate or imminent dangers that would typically be covered by its marine insurance policy, such as severe weather, collision, or piracy.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a large container ship that has successfully navigated through rough seas and is now tied up at a designated berth in a busy commercial port. The weather is calm, and there are no warnings of impending storms or other threats in the area. The ship is awaiting its turn to unload cargo.

  This situation demonstrates moored in safety because the vessel is securely fastened ("moored") at a standard location for its operations (a commercial port berth), and it is free from any immediate perils like storms or navigational hazards that marine insurance would cover.

• Consider a small fishing trawler that has returned to its home marina for the night. It is tied securely to its usual slip, the harbor is protected from open-sea conditions, and the local weather forecast predicts clear skies and light winds. The crew has disembarked, and the vessel is powered down.

  Here, the trawler is moored in safety because it is fastened in its regular, protected berth ("moored" in a "usual place") and is not facing any immediate threats such as a hurricane, fire, or collision, thus being "in safety."

• A passenger ferry has completed its daily routes and is docked overnight at a designated terminal in a sheltered bay. All passengers have disembarked, and the crew is performing routine maintenance checks. There are no advisories for severe weather, and the docking area is well-lit and secure.

  This scenario illustrates moored in safety as the ferry is securely tied ("moored") at its regular operational terminal ("usual place") and is not subject to any immediate perils like a sudden storm, ice flow, or security breach, ensuring it is "in safety."