DURABILITY TEST AND STATISTICAL EVALUATION OF RUBBER FENDERS FOR VESSEL BERTHING

抄録

 The fender is part of the ancillary equipment of mooring facilities and plays an important role in safe vessel berthing and smooth cargo handling. If fenders are damaged, economic loss will occur due to the suspension of service or restriction of operation of the mooring facility, and the operation and maintenance of the entire facility may be affected. Since fenders are used for a long time, it is necessary to ensure their durability. In 2002, the International Navigation Association (PIANC) published the “Guidelines for the Design of Fender System” and proposed a new method for confirming the durability of rubber fenders. In Japan, in 2010, consistent with the PIANC guidelines, a description of the durability of rubber fenders was added to the Standard Specifications for Port and Harbour Works of the Ports and Harbours Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. In this study, the data of durability tests conducted by rubber fender manufacturers were statistically analyzed. From the results of the durability tests, a longterm performance criterion for rubber fenders was proposed.