limiting design parameters will be exceeded some of the usual limiting design parameters are as follows a stresses in the trussed leg members b storm holding capacity of the elevating pinions of the jacking system c storm holding capacity of the leg to hull locking system providing the jack up is equipped with a locking system d allowable leg footing reactions to the soil e preload capacity f overturning if a jack up is taut moored as proposed with this invention lateral deflections of a jack up caused by storm induced forces will either stretch or slacken the taut mooring lines depending on the direction of the deflections the stretched mooring lines will induce forces against the jack up which will be counteractive to the forces that cause the deflections the result will be reduced deflections that will reduce all of the limiting parameters that are outlined above a static analysis for a jack up that is taut moored as proposed with this invention will show that all of the usual limiting design parameters can be met for more severe environmental criteria than can be safely resisted if the jack up were not taut moored in order to determine if any of these limiting design parameters will be exceeded it is usually necessary to perform what is commonly referred to as a u201c static analysis u201d in a static.