When is it necessary to replace the rubber fender?

Rubber fender is a kind of rubber products used to protect the outside of the ship, mainly used in the ship berthing, leaving or in contact with other ships, play a role in cushioning, damping and protecting the outside of the ship. However, with the passage of time and changes in the conditions of use, the rubber fender may be worn, aged or damaged, which requires replacement. The following will describe some common situations, may need to replace the rubber fender reasons.

1. Wear and aging: After a long time of use and being affected by the environment such as sea water and sunlight, there will be different degrees of wear and aging. Wear and aging can cause the elasticity of rubber fender to weaken, the buffering and shock absorption effect to become worse, and even crack, fracture and so on. When the rubber fender appears obvious wear and aging, it needs to be replaced in time.

2. Transverse profile deformation: During the use of rubber fender, transverse profile deformation may occur due to the external force of the ship. This deformation may lead to uneven contact between the rubber fender and the outside of the ship, and the effect of shock absorption and protection is reduced. When the rubber fender is found to have transverse profile deformation, it also needs to be replaced.

3. Damage and breakage: The rubber fender may be damaged and broken due to collision or impact when berthing or in contact with other vessels. Damaged and broken rubber fender will lose its original protection function and cannot effectively cushion and absorb shock. At this time, the rubber fender must be replaced immediately to ensure the safety and protection of the ship.

4. Expired replacement: rubber fenders usually have a certain service life and need to be replaced after a certain number of years. The specific service life depends on the material of the rubber fender, the manufacturing process and the use environment. In general, the service life of rubber fenders is 5-10 years under normal conditions of use. If the rubber fender exceeds the service life, even if there is no obvious wear and aging, it should be replaced in time to ensure the safety of the ship.

5. Ship transformation and upgrading: In the process of ship transformation and upgrading, it may involve the replacement of rubber fender. For example, when a ship is modified to increase the width of the hull, a new rubber fender corresponding to the width is needed. Or, the ship has carried out platform transformation, equipment installation and other work, resulting in the original rubber fender can not adapt to the new working state, but also need to be replaced.

In summary, the need to replace the rubber fender mainly includes wear and aging, transverse profile deformation, damage and fracture, expired replacement, and ship transformation and upgrading. Timely replacement of rubber fender can ensure the safe operation of the ship and extend the service life of the ship.