1837 a breakwater protected ships from storms and winds and ships tied up against the side of the town, and when the tide receded, the wooden ships settled on the muddy bottom, leaned against the wall or against each other, and the weight of the hull leaning on the ground or against another shop could bend the planks of the hull which could thus leak unless more fibrous stuffing was forced between the planks, ie caulking maintenance. The waves ie swell would move the ship up and down, causing potential damage. The ship is less prone to damage and expensive repair if it floats when tied up at a dock, so the floating dock was eventually built with dock gates so that ships contiue to float without waves or wind bouncing them against each other when tied up.