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Mooring System

As the Red Sea has grown in popularity, so has the number of private and commercial boats using the waters. Sadly, one of the biggest threats to the preservation of coral reefs is physical damage caused by anchors. Mooring buoy systems can significantly reduce this damage and eliminate the need for anchoring on the reefs.

To date, HEPCA has done just that by installing over 1000 buoys throughout the Red Sea and has been instrumental to transfer the technology in neighboring countries.

A combination of private funding, donations, and initiatives have enabled HEPCA, in cooperation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agecy (EEAA), to raise the necessary finance to install and maintain the mooring buoy system.

Since its foundation in the early 1990's HEPCA has been responsible for developing, installing and maintaining a boat mooring system to protect the fragile coral reefs of the Red Sea.

A combination of private funding, donations, and initiatives have enabled HEPCA, in cooperation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), to raise the necessary finance to install and maintain the mooring buoy system.

How moorings protect coral reefs

Physical damage to coral reefs from anchors is a well documented marine resource protection problem. When boats attach their anchors to a reef, the action of attachment and the pressure on the chains caused by swell underwater can rip reefs apart and destroy the delicate marine life. By far the most effective way to reduce damage is the installation of mooring buoys to anchor boats.

Any area that receives boat traffic can benefit from mooring buoys, which can be integrated into a comprehensive resource protection management strategy. In addition to reducing anchor damage to living corals, buoys can act as an important management tool, and can also serve as a convenient way for skippers to secure their vessels while enjoying the unique coral reef communities.

A mooring buoy system consists of three elements: a permanent fixture on the sea bottom; a floating buoy on the water surface; and something in between to attach the two. Sea bottom characteristics usually dictate what type of system is most suitable. The Halas system is most successful in areas with flat, solid bedrock.

Protecting marine ecology for the future

HEPCA believes strongly in the concept of technology transfer and is currently works as the implementation partner for a pioneering project to install sustainable mooring systems and train others in their use and maintenance throughout the whole Red Sea region. This highly significant project aims to spread a best practice mooring culture throughout the region which includes such countries as Djibouti, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

HEPCA, proudly, shares this positive technology transfer amongst its neighboring countries and communities to support the growing environmental consciousness. See the following links for community efforts supported by HEPCA in the pursuit to make a strong mooring culture in Egypt.