What is the term used for securing a boat to a pier?

• A. Moor
• B. Make Fast
• C. Anchor
• D. Tie Up

Answer: (B)

Securing a boat to a pier is all about making fast the lines to the dock so the vessel stays in place alongside. Make fast is the precise nautical term for securing the ends of your lines to fixed objects on the pier—cleats, bollards, or other dock hardware—so the boat remains secure and won’t drift away.

Moor describes securing to a mooring or dock using mooring lines, which is a broader context than just tying to the pier. Anchor is about holding position by dropping an anchor to the seabed, not tying to the dock. Tie up is a common way to say docking, but the formal action described in this scenario is make fast, which specifically means securing the lines to the dock.