What does it mean to "moor" a vessel?

Mooring a vessel refers to the practice of securing the boat in a way that prevents it from drifting away. This can be achieved by anchoring the vessel to the seabed or tying it to a fixed object such as a dock, wall, or buoy. The key aspect of mooring is that it involves maintaining a stable position for the boat, whether through the use of ropes, chains, or anchors.

While anchoring does involve a method of securing a vessel, it specifically involves water-based anchorage without necessarily tying to a fixed structure. Tying a vessel to a dock is a specific type of mooring, but it does not encompass all mooring methods. Raising a vessel out of the water is a different concept, primarily associated with storage or repair, rather than mooring, which is focused on keeping a boat securely in place while it is still in the water. Thus, the option that best defines the term "moor" is the one emphasizing the act of keeping the vessel in place through various means of attachment.