Now in 2021, pneumatic fenders have become an indispensable product in maritime safety protection systems. It has made great contributions to ensuring the safety of ship berthing operations and ship berthing ports. As we know, the pneumatic fender was first invented by Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., but before this product was produced, what kind of marine fender was used for ship-to-ship operations to prevent ship collisions? I believe you are also very curious about this question. Today, we will take you to learn more about the history of floating pneumatic fenders!
- The predecessor of the pneumatic fender-origin
Before World War II, whale carcasses were used all over the world as a buffer measure to prevent collisions between two ships. This sounds incredible, but it is a fact. Around 1957, a whaling ship in the Netherlands was photographed using the carcass of a whale to dock a supply ship containing supplies and fuel. As you can see from the picture, a huge whale is lying between the two boats, and the crew is transporting fruits and vegetables and whale oil for oil lamps to their boats.
Dead whales are a common anti-collision measure in Japan. At that time, every Japanese ship had to freeze and store a certain number of whole whales on board so that they could be used immediately when needed. We all know that Japan was a big whaling country in the old days. It has been reported that they caught them to make delicious dishes. Now think about it, maybe a large part of it is used as fenders for ships!
- The birth of pneumatic fenders
Because the smell of whales after death will become more and more unpleasant, and when they are used as floating fenders, gas will also be pumped into the body, which sounds very cruel. This practice is increasingly paying attention to the global ecological balance. Criticized by the world organization. So after World War II, people began to look for anti-collision marine fenders that could replace dead whales. At that time, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., an advanced manufacturer of rubber products, was also required to develop suitable man-made substitutes. In 1958, Yokohama Rubber successfully developed an inflatable rubber fender. It imitates the approximate cylindrical shape of a whale, and retains the way it is used after inflation, and also combines their main business at the time-tire production technology. Since then, this high-performance super large inflatable fender has been widely used all over the world and has become a very important marine collision avoidance system for offshore operations such as STS.
Later, inflatable pneumatic fenders also stipulated the world's unified performance certification standard ISO17357 to ensure that yokohama pneumatic fenders produced by other manufacturers can also be used safely.
- Interesting talk about pneumatic fender
Because the pneumatic fender resembles the appearance of a whale, there has also been a much-watched fender stranding incident in the United States. In 2013, a huge inflatable fender detached from the tether was discovered on a coast of Norfolk. Apparently it was washed to the shore by the waves, and because the beach was too soft, there was no way to drive it away. Locals even want to know whether this fender will become a tourist attraction like the 60-foot sperm whale that was washed away in 2004, blocking the entrance of the Sannum Harbor Channel.
In the end, it is not known whether this huge fender was safely removed. The detailed report can be read here https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335578/Mystery-giant-ship-bumper-washed-Norfolk-coast.html.
- Will pneumaticfenders be innovative in the future?
The pneumatic fender can be used for 63 years, indicating its excellent performance. At present, the production methods of inflatable fenders are molded, extruded and wound. Each production method has different advantages. The biggest problem with pneumatic fenders may be the rust of metal fittings. Even if anti-rust materials are used, long-term seawater corrosion still cannot prevent them from rusting. Perhaps a new type of synthetic metal material will be born in the future to solve this problem. The technical staff of Shanghai are always updating the production technology of pneumatic fenders, and hope that we can be the first manufacturer to solve this problem.
Final
The birth of pneumatic fenders can be said to have saved the lives of right whales and the development of the ecological chain of the earth. Sunhelm began to develop and produce yokohama pneumatic fenders in 2015 and has a history of 16 years. Although Yokohama invented the pneumatic fender, their main business still has dozens of areas. The main product of Sunhelm is pneumatic fenders. We have been dealing with fenders for 16 years. Our technicians are more professional, and the product quality is not inferior to Yokohama. We welcome customers from all over the world to try our pneumatic fenders. Get high-quality fender products at a more favorable price!
Take a look at our products first: https://www.sunhelmmarine.com/marine-fenders/pneumatic-fender/
Inquiries are welcome: info@sunhelmmarine.com