Fenders are a safety critical element in the port infrastructure and ensure safe berthing of vessels. Despite the importance of fenders in port operations, the lack of clear guidelines and the drive to reduce costs led to an increase in low-quality fenders that are being supplied in the market. The current industry practice is that the responsibility for verifying the performance of a rubber fender lies with manufacturers. The conflict of interest between the manufacturer and Customer is obvious, especially when considering the high cost of these goods. This technical paper presents ways to mitigate the risk of non-performing fenders. The new PIANC WG211 guidelines for fenders provide a much better framework for all stakeholders to test fenders consistently and provide reliable data. With the increased availability of independent third party fender test facilities, the reliability of the fender performance can be ensured. However, end-users must engage these third parties in the verification process of the fenders.
Testing of Marine Fenders
17th Triennial International Conference ; 2025 ; Providence, Rhode Island
Ports 2025 ; 995-1005
2025-05-29
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
FENDERS: Developments in marine fenders at Bridgestone
Online Contents | 1997
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995
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