Aug 13 2009
With the pressure rising to protect the environment, is your company searching for eco-friendly construction materials and methods? Schuyler Companies (a subsidiary of Maritime International Inc) is introducing a new category of marine fenders for barging facilities that is tougher than anything available on the market today.
Pinto Island - Laminated Dock Fender Installation
- Manufactured from 100% recycled waste truck tire material that would otherwise need to be land-filled. Our manufacturing process results a finished product that is difficult to recognize as former tires, and is transformed into a solid, rugged fender that can withstand the punishing marine environment of the barge dock world.
- The operational benefit of these marine fenders is their inherent durability for docks that require significant abrasion resistance rather than energy absorption.
- Our marine fenders are considered to be a 'green' product. It is a win/win situation as laminated fenders are the most durable fender on the market with the additional benefit of providing the environmentally conscious clients with a product that contributes to protecting our environment and saving our natural resources.
- These marine fenders are designed to be an improved option to the use of typical wood timbers, or molded rubber fenders which are not as durable for barge docks, or as environmentally friendly as laminated bumpers
Performance
Schuyler Maritime has conducted extensive abrasion and performance testing on these fenders (see graph). Neither wood timbers nor molded rubber bumpers can match this durability. This is a very important factor, because most marine facilities require a costly ongoing maintenance replacement budget for their timber fender system each year. Laminated rubber bumpers require almost no regular maintenance as they are not as susceptible to the breakage and wear and tear of other type bumpers.
The Environment
In recent years it has become apparent that the usage of wood timbers is not overwhelmingly advocated due to issues related to chemically treated wood which is dangerous to the environment. The advent of non-treated wood was an improvement from the standpoint of keeping chemicals out of the water, but wood (I.e.…..trees) as a natural resource was still being consumed as a sacrificial product on the docks. Finally, wood timbers are frequently replaced on common maintenance rotations as they are easily damaged and subject to normal environmental conditions which rapidly degrade the wood.
A Proven Product
Some clients include: Shell, Kinder Morgan, Port of Los Angeles, Valero, Cargill, Motiva, Ergon, Total Petroleum, Capital Terminals and the Port of Alabama. Todd Turcotte of Capital Terminals in Rhode Island, USA; a wholesale fuel storage and distribution company; says "We were looking for a way to upgrade our current fender system at our barge dock which previously utilized wood timbers. The timbers were a maintenance headache and costly to repair and replace each year. Laminated rubber bumpers have provided us with a maintenance free fender system that works great and is getting the job done." The Port of Alabama is utilizing more than 2,000 lineal feet (600m) of laminated rubber fenders for their barge dock at the new Pinto Island facility. Project Engineer, Stan Gottleib of Shaw GBB Engineering firm saw the operational benefits of laminated fenders immediately. "These fenders are just plain tough, and when we considered all the options, it was obvious to us laminated bumpers would serve the port best from a durability and low maintenance standpoint. The environmental benefits were icing on the cake." said Gottleib.