Types and Setups
A very simple way of mooring a vessel is the spread moored layout.
The system is built up from multiple mooring lines attached symmetrically to the vessel. These lines are attached to the bow and the stern of the vessel. The position of the vessel is fixed and with its fixed heading it is unable to weathervane. This manner of mooring is used on sites where the environmental conditions are highly directional.
In the configuration of single point mooring the ship is moored on only one side of the vessel.
This has the main advantage that the is able to weathervane around this point (usually at the bow) and always is in the direction in which the vessel endures the least amount of environmental forces acting on the vessel.
With the use of a dynamic positioning system a vessel is kept at a location with the use of thrusters.
These thrusters provide a certain amount of thrust in a specific direction. This can be done with multiple types of thrusters. Commonly used are azimuthing thrusters, pods, tunnel thrusters, fixed thrusters or cycloidal thrusters.
Location
Pictures and data based on the company Sealaunch