Eco mooring buoys

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Genoa

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Hi Helpful ones.
I have just been granted the right to lay a new mooring by the MMO for my boat. However, our friends at Natural England have added a clause to the license so it now reads, "An eco-friendly mooring that utilises a spring-loaded riser system must be used."
So, has anyone got any contacts who have actually laid one of these and can source one? I have tried contacting "EzyRider" in Oz, but they haven't got back to me (3 attempts over 2 weeks). I am not convinced by the "elastic rope" options, but happy to be persuaded.
What are the combined thoughts on how these should be deployed?
The mooring is to be in the Solent area, and is for a 2 ton sailing yacht.
Thanks to all you willing advisors!
 
Lots of talk about these if Studland Bay were to become a protected zone, but I have not heard of anyone being obliged to fit one in their own laid mooring.

Where is this? Somewhere sensitive? What are they worried that you will damage with a conventional mooring arrangement?
 
Yes, do they have the right to insist on this ?

There are a couple of types of EFM - Environmentally Friendly Mooring - BUT as they rely on a big corkscrew into the seabed it really requires a survey; are NE / MMO going to pay for this or pass on data ?

If they haven't got data I'd suggest they don't know what they're talking about, may well be some keen type has ticked it off, ' Environmentally Friendly ? Right we'll insist on that then ' !

Depending on seabed, depth, sea conditions, size of boat etc you may well require several such screws into the seabed.

OR by ' spring loaded riser ' they may mean they'll put up with a traditional concrete sinker, but with an elasticated ( NB not ' spring loaded ' ) riser so there's no chain to scour the bottom ?

Do check your insurers are happy with whichever it is they want you to use...

I'd be asking some hard, pointed questions.
 
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Ask them if they have a list of approved EFM and can recommend a supplier/installer. Odds-on they can't.

And if they can, ask if they can warrant the EFM compared to a trad mooring. Odds-on they won't.

And if not, ask if they realise that they may be held liable for any damage that occurs to your vessel through failure of a EFM that they required.

Then ask if you can lay a trad mooring until a warranted EFM becomes available.
 
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Twister_Ken said:
Ask them if they have a list of approved EFM and can recommend a supplier/installer. Odds-on they can't.

...

Then ask if you can lay a trad mooring until a warranted EFM becomes available.
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Quite correct Ken. No details forthcoming, hence the query on here.
But to those of you that question the legality. Unfortunately if you want to do any marine activity in our territorial waters you have to get a license from the Marine Management Organisation. They can consult who they wish on any aspect of the work, and issue (or not) a license with any clauses the see fit.
The mooring is off Yarmouth where there are seagrass beds, and NE believe these to be adversely affected by chains dragged on the bottom. They have not required me to use a helical anchor, and are happy I use a conventional sinker. I have no real problem with an eco mooring if it is "oversized". Although the local yards are not sure about some of the designs and are concerned if there is not a chain to the buoy. The EzyRider has this, hence my preference.
I tried the RYA environmental team - no response either, so it seems there is a lot of noise and very little fact/substance/knowledge in the organisations responsible either to manage or advise.
So back to the point,
anyone know anyone who has actually deployed anything that qualifies as an "Eco- Mooring"?
 
Not exactly a mooring, but the VNAZ - Voluntary No Anchor Zone - buoys at Studland Bay are EFM's with screws and Ezyrider style bands.

I never did find anywhere in the UK using them for proper boats yet !

When it looked like Studland would end up with 50 EFM's I rang my insurers and described the situation, asking how they felt about their use as public visitors moorings.

" what is the max value boat you envisage using them ? "

' Well it's right by Sunseekers and on the main E-W route, so potentially a few million '

" Err, we'll get back to you ! ' Click, brrrr...Of course I never heard from them again.
 
I think I would take the view that a mooring with its main riser made of buoyant rope meets the spirit of the eco concept.
If you added more buoyancy part way down, it would deflect the riser in the same way that the weight deflects the chain.
Or you could have a weight like an anchor angel, positioned so that it was always off the bottom.

Unless there is a standard for 'eco stuff' to meet, it's all a bit vague.
 
lw395 said:
Unless there is a standard for 'eco stuff' to meet, it's all a bit vague.
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Exactly the problem. I have been given this one liner, but no real support as to what it really means in practise, so I am curious to know what others would really do ....
 
I would ask for a specification that any mooring must meet. Basically ask lots of questions and the point about them covering any damage if the mooring specified does break. Ideally you want to make it so un attractive for them to insist on those that they will let you use a proper one.
 
jac said:
I would ask for a specification that any mooring must meet. Basically ask lots of questions and the point about them covering any damage if the mooring specified does break. Ideally you want to make it so un attractive for them to insist on those that they will let you use a proper one.
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... or say "no, you can't have one after all."
 
Genoa said:
so I am curious to know what others would really do ....
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I would just lay a conventional mooring with an old coil spring from a scrap yard fixed somewhere. In the extremely unlikely event that they actually have a look to see what you've done and write to you about it you can just write back (on recycled paper of course) and tell them that it must have broken.
 
Seajet said:
So in effect they're saying they fancy the idea of an EFM but can't give a spec' ?!
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Exactly. They say there are many available in other countries, but I can't find a proven technology in a reasonably tidal environment unless anyone knows different

Thistle said:
... or say "no, you can't have one after all."
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You got it! - That's why I making best efforts to show I am trying to comply ...
 
There are some in U.S. waters but I forget the details; they're mentioned in the advertising for the things, and I get the impression they're not in wide use.

Also some in the Med' which proves nothing re tides...
 
It is encouraging to hear that MMO are granting licences to lay moorings in known eelgrass beds, as Nat England are convinced that doing so wrecks the eelgrass, and whenever i have spoken to them on the issue have refused to consider the use of conventional mooring sinkers. If asked they will recommend the American system with a helical screw, initial testing for which in UK is proving something less than satisfactory.

I would assume therefore that MMO is hedging its bets, and is looking at a compromise arrangement avoiding the contentious screw in fastening.

Private mooring owners need to be aware that NE as the Government Advisory Body will always recommend Eco Friendly moorings reducing the impact on the seabed.

The argument is that the scour area of a conventional chain mooring is damaging to marine life and vegetation within its scope. In eelgrass it prevents the plant producing a coherent root mass which weakens and destroys it. They say. The practical experience of 75 years + of moorings in Studland bay's eelgrass suggests otherwise.

As Seajet (who did an assessment of the available systems for BORG a couple of years ago) says, these things are unproven in UK waters, and are regarded with deep suspicion by Insurance Companies. I think you need to contact your insurers, and see what they have to say about the various available systems befroe you go any further, as they are unlikely to cover you for an unapproved mooring system.

Genoa, I have PM'd you with contact details of one or two people who may be able to advise. MMO does not always get things right, and the requirement for you to use EFM style mooring is highly politically charged and if challenged may well be withdrawn. I am a member of the MMO group which is supposed to be trialling these things to test their suitability. As yet they have been unable to fund any pilot scheme, so that the demand to use them, even with a conventional mooring sinker is highly suspect, and can and should be challeneged. I think you will find the specific people in RYA I have given you will be more than a little interested, and very well aware of the problem!
 
oldharry said:
The argument is that the scour area of a conventional chain mooring is damaging to marine life and vegetation within its scope. In eelgrass it prevents the plant producing a coherent root mass which weakens and destroys it. They say. The practical experience of 75 years + of moorings in Studland bay's eelgrass suggests otherwise.
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Yep. some interesting points raised regarding "protecting wildlife" the boat yard guys who lay the moorings for the harbour and yacht club pointed out the amount of natural wildlife that the chains, anchors and mooring tackle attract in a mooring field. They said you can live well for a couple of weeks on oysters and fish roe if you were of a mind!

I've approached my insurers as well for feedback. Although the guy I spoke to was not aware what an EFM was, so it has not started doing the rounds there!
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In the work I've done (as a member of BORG, Boat Owners' Response Group) on eelgrass, I've looked at aerial pictures of the seabed all along the coast from Bembridge to Weymouth, and have noticed a curious thing about Yarmouth. While mooring buoys in places like Studland and Poole Harbour show distinct scour marks caused by the chains, the buoys around Yarmouth Harbour do not. NO SCOUR MARKS.

It's easy to check this. It shows best on Bing Maps: so, go to Bing Maps, type in the location, up comes a map. Click on the arrow by the box that says Birds Eye (or Aerial), and select Aerial. Bingo: up comes the aerial picture. You can pan around, and zoom in and out. The mooring buoys to east and west of the Yarmouth Harbour are easily seen, and they do not show scour marks.

You can see the same on Google Earth: this shows the seabed vegetation better, but the aerial image loses detail beyond the 2nd or 3rd row of buoys. So point this out to the MMO and ask why Natural England are wanting to solve a problem that does not exist. (Actually it's in NE's nature to find anything that man does is a problem - except for ecologists of course).

Question - why don't these buoys show scour marks? It could be something to do with the ground tackle used, but my guess is that because the tide runs hard most of the time off Yarmouth, even slack water is over in the blink of an eye, and also the tidal range is fairly small, the riser chains are perhaps kept stretched and off the bottom, so they don't scour the vegetation much. This is a guess, it would be interesting to find out. If it's true, it suggests a simpler type of "eco mooring" where there's a good tidal current - just use a big buoy that is pulled strongly by the current to keep the chain off the bottom. If it's half filled with water, you'd get even more drag on the buoy.

So, tell them there's no problem at Yarmouth, and if anyone's got any information or thoughts around these non-scouring buoys it would be good to hear.
 
Think there is a lot in what you say. Not sure what the depths are of the Yarmouth moorings, but in Studland they are less than 5m at high water and with a maximum range of 2m. The big difference is that there is very little tidal flow unlike Yarmouth where it is going one way or the other all the time and at considerable speed, so doubt the chain lies on the bottom for any time. Studland is open to the east and in strong easterlies as we experience most spring the wind will move mooring buoys around a lot, particularly with boats on them, taking the chain across the bottom.

As you say need for some research here rather than the blanket Eco mooring diktat.
 
MarlinSpyke,

I think you're on the right lines ie the tide off Yarmouth is one way or the other 180 degrees, but the chain does still have to swing round, and if it's taut all the time - avoiding scouring of the seabed - it's not a very good or even adequate mooring !

The OP could do with some good research and info, which seems to be a lot more than the mooring providers and NE have...
 
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