Why use fendering? It was once stated, some years ago, “there is a simple reason to use fenders: it is too expensive not to do so”. Although it may be rather pragmatic and one-sided view, there certainly is a germ of truth in the statement. In addition to the financial aspect, safety is probably an even more important reason to install fenders.

Nowadays, it is common practice to apply fender assemblies comprising energy-absorbing rubber elements in ports which have to accommodate large vessels. However, port authorities have an approach which is both commercial and practical; therefore, if conditions allow (relatively small vessels, mild environmental conditions), ports may opt for the installation of low-cost fenders and/or apply locally available material. Wooden fenders, rubber tyres or the like are therefore still regularly encountered all over the world, even in major ports.

The increased necessity and the economic reasons to use fendering come from various sources:

a) The use of fenders contributes to minimization of the life-cycle construction and operation costs;

b) Changes in the vessels:

Vessels are becoming more and more expensive in building and operation. This implies that the use of material for building a vessel is being economized, without sacrificing their seaworthiness, but the risks of damage to vessels in port has increased;

The costs of demurrage of a vessel in case of repair or in case of idle time when a vessel is not capable to berth, has increased tremendously;

Wind age area of vessels has increased substantially (container and cruise vessels);

Larger vessels carrying larger cargoes of hazardous goods.

c) The deeper waters required for the modern vessels result in less protected berths, thus an increase of the energy generated by a berthed vessel as a result of waves, wind and currents. The use of a carefully designed modern fender system may allow a berth facility to be located in surroundings without the protection of expensive break waters;

d) Fenders, generally in combination with a compatible mooring line arrangement, may be used to reduce the movements of vessels in consideration of the unloading operations;

e) An important factor favoring the use of fendering is safety: this relates only to the safety of the people working in the port or in the surroundings thereof, but also to the prevention of damage to the port infrastructure and the vessel and, last but not least, to protection of the environment. Damage to vessels, and especially to vessels carrying hazardous cargoes, as a result of an undesired hard encounter between vessel and quay or jetty may result in a calamity especially when it is not protected by fenders.

Fenders may also be used to keep the vessel at a certain distance from the jetty or quay what may be of importance in case of raker piles under a jetty or a shallow area in front of a quay.

JIER is the leading manufacturer of high performance marine fender system products. We are specialized in the design, manufacture and sale of rubber fenders and fender systems with over 15 years of experience in the engineering and manufacture of rubber fender products and accessories.

With an area of 80,000 square meters (building area 45,000 square meters) and the registered capital of 50.18 million, our factory has a high efficient production capacity of more than 60,000 tons rubber fenders annually.

Contact Us

Feel free to contact us if you have any comments or inquires and one of our skilled staff representatives will contact you within the next business day.