4 Characteristics of a High Quality Marine Fender

Air fenders, often referred to as pneumatic fenders or marine fenders, serve a single primary purpose. They prevent an impact between ships and between a ship and the port facility. Compared to similar, smaller fenders a pneumatic fender has several special properties; however the most important is the low reaction force at low deflection. There are multiple types of marine fenders which comply with international standards. The most appropriate type of pneumatic fender will be determined based upon how and where the facility will use them. While many of the pneumatic fenders look similar there are several key characteristics which make it easy to identify high quality solutions. Fender Systems

Safety and Reliability

The most important consideration when comparing marine fenders is the safety and reliability they offer. High quality fenders are constructed with several layers of protection. In most cases, they utilize strong tire-cord and/or nylon fabric to minimize the risk of breaking, cracking, or being cut under high amounts of pressure.

Long Term Performance

Long term performance is a key characteristic of a high quality pneumatic fender. Over time, lower quality solutions will compress, bend, and deteriorate due to constant fatigue and exposure to the elements. A quality fender offers excellent compressive elasticity of both the manufacturing materials and air. This provides maximum long term performance by reducing or eliminating fatigue related deterioration. Marine Bollards

Combination of Strength and Minimal Reaction Forces

Poorly designed pneumatic fenders are characterized as having a greater reaction force. A soft reaction force is essential, even during inclined compression. If the reaction force is too strong it will take longer for ships to station themselves securing against the other ship or port. Quality fenders are adequately reinforced using durable, strong materials such as tire-cord to prevent shearing while managing both external compression forces and internal air pressure. This is particularly important when ships remain against the marine fender as the tide changes. A change in the tide levels can exert significant additional strain on the fender which causes damage in lower quality solutions.

Controlled Costs - Installation, Maintenance, and Shipping

The final characteristic of a high quality marine fender is cost control. There are three different areas in which costs can be minimized. They are shipping, the installation process, and ongoing maintenance. The best solutions are usually packed and shipped in a vacuumed and folded down state. This significantly reduces shipping expenses. They are also easy to install or transferred to different moorings when not in use. This allows ports which are less busy to move the pneumatic fenders from one mooring to another as needed. The final way to control costs is with regular maintenance. The more durable a pneumatic fender is the less regular maintenance it will require.

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