[Vince Ferrer]

Interested in the capture of that thing on the barge. Its way top heavy to just politely set there like that, and with ocean swells making a very unstable platform the military usually sends a squad of expendables out to lash the craft to the deck. Im am guessing their may be some kind of magnetic capturing to hold it in place as well as hi-tech Z-drives powering the barge for precision station keeping and pitch and yaw control of the barge.

Whatever the case, they seem to be doing it right.

There are two things they use to keep the craft standing after it lands. First, the barge itself is specially designed to adjust to the waves and keep its surface flat and steady. Secondly, there is a ship standing close by the barge, and when it lands, a crew goes to the barge and welds the legs to the ship surface.

[Delta 21]

I like my big friggen magnet plan better.

Its amazing hot hot that thing comes in. Buck Rogers hovered just a wee bit before touchdown. NOT THESE GUYS !

[NonValueAdded]

and when it lands, a crew goes to the barge and welds the legs to the ship surface.

I see robots doing that in the future. Little roombas coming out of the deck like in the Fifth Element. "Look at all these little things! So busy now! Notice how each one is useful. A lovely ballet ensues, so full of form and color."

[r_barton]

Also, most of the weight of the empty rocket is at the bottom with the 9 rocket engines and landing gear. The top 90% of the length is basically an empty aluminum soda can. Welding the legs just keeps it from sliding around on the deck in the waves. Once it’s landed and still, there is not much chance of it tipping over due to most of the weight being at the bottom.

[Robe]

Actually, they don’t weld the legs to the deck, they place a “shoe”over the legs,then weld that to the deck.
That doesn’t damage the leg “pads”.