linéaire visiteur

09:48 Apr 21, 2010 

Isn't it just! (Fun). However for me, all of that is irrelevant, if you consider that it's to do with amount (expressed in length) of quay available. For me, it has nothing at all to do with the detailed nitty gritty of how the boats might be berthed, a rough idea of volume (altho' that really looks bad, 'cos volume is in m3 and length in m). I'm sure you know what I mean!

08:49 Apr 21, 2010 

This brings up an interesting linguistic point: what we are looking for is essentially a retronym. Before the invention of finger pontoons boats would just moor side-to so there was no specific way of describing this, no need for it.

Compare what has happend with telephones: before the invention of the mobile a telephone was just a telephone, now we have to talk about landlines, office numbers and other euphemisms to explain the difference.

"Side-to berth" is self-explanatory, as would be "stern-to berth" or "bow-to berth", unlike "lateral berth" which would be very unclear. "Perpendicular berth" might be workable.

Trouble is, with a finger pontoon you can go stern or bow in... in fact, there is no such thing as an exclusively "stern-to berth" or an exclusively "bow-to berth".

And indeed, you can go stern to a pontoon without recourse to a finger pontoon (i.e. Mediterranean mooring).

Isn't this fun?

17:29 Apr 20, 2010 

that is beautifully clear, and is identical to the photo in my pdf document! Clever You!
The marina closest to the camera is indeed the one being discussed here "Le port Vauban - ou port de la pointe - peut accueillir des bateaux de plus gros tonnage" which fits in with what both you and Graham have been saying.
I should perhaps add that the text in your link is not the one I'm translating!

16:22 Apr 20, 2010 

Closer view - at least for me. I can't fully zoom the link you posted.
http://www.camaret-sur-mer.com/index.php?action=site affiche...
showing boats parallel and perpendicular to the pontoons.

16:08 Apr 20, 2010 

Tony, I think you're probably on to something here! The pdf photo shows far more clearly that boats are indeed moored parallel to the pontoons rather than perpendicularly to them, as they are (predominantly) in the other 2 marinas.
Now all I need is to find the proper nautical term for this! Thanks once again for your help!

"Linear berthing" gets a few g-hits, and seems a good place to start

15:46 Apr 20, 2010 

I don't know if there's a clue in this image - the Port Vauban is the marina that is the furthest to the right in this google-map-type image. The main harbour - with the other 2 marinas - is a natural harbour, whereas this one has been stuck on to the end..
Berthing sounds like a very good place to start - although, wouldn't they all provide berths/moorings...?

http://www.bluemapia.com/wikipoiDetails.php?id=23

It's a pity I can't show the lovely image in the pdf file for the text :(

15:30 Apr 20, 2010 

Looks like we're thinking on the same lines. I've seen this before. You might try looking at marina berthing facilities in the south of England. There are several different ways of berthing boats to save space.

15:29 Apr 20, 2010 

It sounds like the amount of berthing facilities to me.

15:27 Apr 20, 2010 

I can't confirm for sure, but this might be a starting point for you. I think you'll find this may be referring to berths that allow people to moor in a 'linear' fashion alongside the quay / pontoon etc. Very convenient, of course, but not very space-efficient in a crowded marina!

This is only a hunch, but it might give you a starting point for further research, at least!

Then again, if this is the outermost, least-sheltered, and with deep-water, then it might mean the opposite: moorings in-line between pairs of buoys (or piles, etc.), specifically intended for people who do not want / need to be alongside the quay. This would seem to make more sense given the context you have.

I suppose you've tried a Google Earth or similar image of the actual port in question...?