<p>This paper employs the high-order-spectral-computational fluid dynamics (HOS-CFD) method to analyze the motion responses of a moored container ship at three positions in a rogue wave: before, at, and after its maximum wave height. These three positions display during the nonlinear evolution of the rogue wave. Numerical results are validated against physical wave tank experiments, where the rogue wave is accurately reproduced using the HOS method. The numerical results of position-dependent hydrodynamic responses in the rogue wave show that the maximum heave and surge motions do not occur at the location of maximum wave height. The heave motion peak appears before the location, the surge motion peak happens afterward and the pitch motion peak is at the location. Wavelet transform analysis is adopted to explain this situation. Scattering wave field analyses are carried out to show the different scattering wave types around the ship during the evolution of the rogue wave.</p>