connection; linking; linkage; link; liaison; contact
constraint; restraint; restriction; binding
mooring a ship; moored ship
tied island; land-tied island
harnessing (a horse to a cart, esp. for a race)
dependents; family members that one has to support; encumbrances; things that tie one down
dispute; contention; conflict; controversy
bollard; bitt; mooring post
connection; relation; association; pendency
pendency; pending litigation; pendente lite