Mooring Stations in Marine Protected Areas MOORING BUOYS LAYOUT Mooring buoys are generally attached to a ground chain, which in turn is anchored to the sea bed with a heavy object or anchor. Sometimes a buoy can be on its own or on a line of moorings attached to heavy chain that runs along the seabed, this is called a ‘trot’. Quite often the buoy itself is too heavy to lift, as it will be attached to a heavy riser chain, so you will normally find a ring on top of the buoy, which sometimes also has a pick up line attached, and you will tie the yacht to that ring. If you are picking up a mooring in an area that you do not know, or if it is your first time on a yacht then check the charts and ask for local knowledge about which moorings are strong enough to support your yacht, though often you will find that where there are mooring buoys, they are generally well maintained and on offer for many visiting yachts. In areas where the seabed is especially sensitive due to coral, there are normally strict no mooring or anchoring signs.