For designing a buoy mooring system it is important to define the loads which the buoy needs to encounter. If these loads are not calculated properly the mooring system may become over or under dimensioned. This will result in higher costs or a higher chance of failure.

The following loads are considered to be significant:

• Wave loads
• Current loads
• Ice loads

The wind loads will be neglected because there is only a small part of the buoy exposed to wind. The wind loads will be minor to the other loads mentioned above.

The formula's related with the forces are highly cumbersome to put down on an webpage. Therefore the theory can be found in the following pdf file: