CONTINUOUSWAVE

If a ship comes to a pier under its own power without assistance, it is docking.

If the ship is brought to the pier with the assistance of tugs, it is berthing.

This same distinction is made with space vehicles. If a spacecraft approaches the International Space Station (ISS) and maneuvers itself into position to connect to the space station, it is said to be docking. If the spacecraft approaches the ISS and is captured by the ISS arm and then moved toward the space station, it is said to be berthing.

Not to be confused with birthing, which has nothing to do with boats.

D-

And a boat/ship/vessel is kept in its Berth at the Dock

Thanks for the information, I plan to use it to impress my boating friends next summer. Bet they don't have a clue about the difference.

My wife would tell you that there have been times my docking the boat (the 38' Sea Ray) was nearly as painful as birthing our children...

Happy Holidays!

Todd

I decided to give this conversation "a wide berth"

Happy Holidays

M