I received a notice from RMS recently encouraging me to switch my conventional mooring to an "Environmentally friendly mooring like this
http://hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au/our-region/projects-and-programs/environmentally-friendly-moorings-project

As an incentive the letter invites me to apply for a rebate to the value of 50% of the cost of the new mooring apparatus. That is probably not a bad deal considering the cost could be up to $3,300 to make the change. I'm supportive of the environmental concerns that this initiative is trying to address though the out of pocket cost is still a lot of coin that could easily be allocated to other things.

Does anybody have first hand experience of these types of moorings? The demo video on the website suggests that they will perform better than the conventional mooring.

The offer of the rebate suggests to me that this is the way RMS is heading and it is probably only a matter of time before they say that conventional moorings are no longer allowed at all and need to be replaced with one of these new types. But has anybody herd anything definite along these lines? What about timeframe?

Hey,

I am a supplier of Black Snake mooring strops which are a nylon core (straight yarns, not braided) covered with thick rubber and premade thimble eyes. Black Snakes won't untwist or wear, they are getting over 5 years in commercial use in Bass Straight

They are using them alot in Port Phillip with large contrete moorings or what is shown above (eco mooring) and they are having a big result in brigning seagrass back.

Jervis Bay is a national park and all new moorings are supposed to be the screw type though I know conventional moorings are still going in. The greater expense comes from the fact that a minimum of two divers is required to actually screw these items into the bottom versus a single operator and a barge staying dry installing conventional moorings. Owners can also install their own conventional moorings. I can see there being value in these moorings in a seagrass bed but there are a hell of a lot of moorings not in seagrass beds. I bet the conventional moorings shown in the video being dragged had just been dropped and not had time to sink into the mud or sand. Not much point comparing concrete blocks with train or tram wheel moorings. The moorings where I moor are on a clean hard sand bottom and after a few weeks the tram wheels sink down a few inches and become very difficult to lift let alone pull sideways. The moorings also create a home for several fish species that would not be on that barren sand bottom normally. The photos of all those moorings with bare patches of seagrasses may be distressing for some people but the clear patches also suit a lot of marine species. Really there are not that many moorings on seagrass when you consider the total seagrass beds.

I like the look of the Black snake mooring strop. I use a similar set up but with just 3 strand nylon with the wear section covered in fire hose. I still have a few feet of heavy chain on the bottom that often does not move for a few days. The galvanized thimble or SS seem to be the weak spot and probably the only thing limiting the life. I think there must be a better material, non metal, to handle the abrasion there. I'm trialing boat roller polypropylene turned up as a thimble in mine to handle the wear from the shackle connection at the moment.

I have no firsthand experience, but Sea Grass Friendly Moorings look very good:

www.seagrassmooring.com.au/