Fenders are vital port equipment that play an essential role in ensuring maritime transport safety and security. They prevent damage to ships and docks by avoiding direct collisions between ships and docks as well as between moored ships. To function optimally, fenders must be maintained properly. In addition, proper maintenance will extend their service life, resulting in cost savings.
Why must fenders be well-maintained? This equipment operates under extreme conditions, making it prone to damage. These extreme conditions include constant ship impacts, exposure to the sun, immersion in seawater, and strong winds.
The fender maintenance system consists of three stages: inspection, repair, and replacement.
Inspection
The purpose of inspection is to ensure that the fender is functioning at all times. There are three types of inspections: initial inspection, periodic inspection, and incidental inspection.
- Initial inspection is performed after installation to ensure that the fender is fully ready for use.
- Periodic inspection aims to assess the effectiveness of the fender at any given time. These inspections are carried out systematically according to a schedule. Inspections are usually done on a daily, quarterly, and annual basis.
- Daily inspections focus on visible issues, such as the fender falling into the sea, shifting position, or loose fender panel chains. Daily inspections are often part of the routine technical inspection of the entire dock.
- Quarterly inspections aim to examine more detailed aspects, such as torn fender bodies, cracked rubber, or bent metal panels. Quarterly inspections also look for damage to accessories, such as loose screws, missing bolts, or other detached components.
- Semi-annual inspections focus on maintaining long-term durability, such as checking for rust, fading paint, or loss of anti-corrosion coatings.
- Annual inspections involve a comprehensive check and evaluate the fender’s lifespan. Expired fenders must be replaced.
Incidental inspections are conducted to detect fender damage caused by specific events, such as fires, high waves, excessive ship movement due to storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, and so on.
Repair
The second step in fender maintenance is repair. Of course, repairs are carried out based on findings from inspections. For example, if a fender falls into the sea, it should be reinstalled. If the fender has shifted, it should be returned to its correct position. When loose nuts and bolts are found, they should be tightened immediately. Similarly, if significant corrosion is discovered, it should be cleaned and coated with anti-corrosion material or paint.
It is important to note that repairs should be done as soon as a deviation or damage is found. Delaying repairs can exacerbate the damage and endanger the operations of both the ship and the dock.
Repairs and Replacement
A study mentions that to ensure fenders function optimally at all times, they must undergo two types of comprehensive repairs: interim maintenance and overhaul. Interim maintenance is done every 4 years, covering repairs to rubber fenders, steel panels, panel coatings, chains, as well as nuts and bolts. Overhaul maintenance is done every 15 years and includes repairs to all components.
If an inspection reveals damage that cannot be repaired, either to individual components or the entire fender, replacement is required. Replacement is also necessary when the fender has exceeded its usage lifespan. Using expired fenders is extremely dangerous for the dock, ship, and its operators.
Good maintenance not only saves costs but also ensures optimal port service. If you need more detailed information about fenders, please contact PT Samudera Luas Paramacitra (SLP) at 0823-2018-9998.
