Lay-by berth

A lay-by berth is a berth used for a ship to wait, lie alongside, or carry out minor operations such as bunkering, crew change, stores, or repairs, rather than to load or discharge cargo. It carries mooring bollards and fenders but little or no cargo-handling equipment, so it is cheaper to build than a working berth. Ports provide lay-by berths to clear cargo berths for productive use and to hold vessels ahead of a tide window or pilot availability. Berth length and fender energy still match the design ship, because a vessel at a lay-by berth exerts the same mooring and berthing loads.