GMorrison
I don't think sher was tied up to the pier as those fjords are tidal zones.
Where you have fixed, hard, moorings like the ones still in many of the fjords, you need a "something" between the hull and the concrete mooring.
Hence, the camel. put hte camel between the mooring and the vessel, then snub up as required. *** line to keep you in, spring lines to keep you fore and aft.
Each of the watches monitor the lines and either take them in or let them out as the tide requires.
Fjords are odd creatures--deep, deep water, but very narrow. So, no room to swing at anchor, and very deep anchorages, especially when fore-and-after mooing is nearly required. I want to remember that the avearge anchorage in Norway runs 50-75m; which meand you are putting out right at a hlaf kilometer of cable and anchor both fore and aft.
IIRC, the DKM often stowed and anchor on the fantail of its ships, but I'm not remembering them having ground tackle capstans and the like.
And, in all fairness, I am basing this on how the US ships were moored in tight anchorages, too.