Automated Mooring System (AMS)

An Automated Mooring System (AMS) holds a vessel alongside using shore-mounted vacuum pads or magnetic units instead of conventional ropes, attaching to the hull plating and absorbing surge, sway, and ranging through hydraulic compliance. Cavotec’s MoorMaster vacuum system is the most widely installed; Trelleborg also supplies units. AMS cuts berthing and unberthing to under a minute, removes line-handling injury exposure, and damps passing-ship and swell-driven motion at exposed berths and lock approaches. It is common at ro-ro, ferry, bulk, and short-sea terminals where fast turnaround matters.