Question: Are we at anchor or moored when med moored, and do we need to display our anchor ball by day and anchor lights at night?
What do you say:
Yes. A yacht that is Med moored (Mediterranean moored) is generally considered to be at anchor if its bow is held by its own anchor and its stern is secured to the quay.
In a typical Med mooring setup:
- The bow anchor is dropped and holds the yacht off the dock.
- The stern lines are tied to the quay to keep the yacht in position and prevent it from swinging.
So the yacht is both:
- At anchor (because the anchor is deployed and bearing load), and
- Moored (because it is also secured with lines).
If, however, the yacht is secured to the dock using moorings (such as laid mooring lines, lazy lines, or permanent mooring buoys) instead of its own anchor, then it is not at anchor—it is simply moored.
The distinction matters in navigation rules and seamanship, since “at anchor” specifically means the vessel is held by an anchor, whereas “moored” is the broader term for being secured in place by any suitable means.
