Henger specializes in the research, development, and production of marine fenders, which have played a vital role in the maritime industry in recent years. As a protective barrier for ships in contact with wharves and other vessels, fenders effectively reduce the damage caused by impact, protect the hull and wharf structure, and extend the service life of the equipment. Inflatable fenders and foam filled fenders are two common types of protective equipment that can be installed alongside ships, in harbors, or on large offshore platforms depending on the actual project requirements due to the different requirements for installation and maintenance conditions. In the next section, we will compare in detail what is the difference between inflatable fenders and foam filled fenders.
Table of Contents
Pneumatic Fenders
Pneumatic Fenders are a kind of mooring cushioning and protection marine supplies, widely used in ships, offshore facilities, marine platforms, port terminals, yachts, and other fields. The inflatable rubber fender ball is made of rubber cord and a high-strength durable rubber layer to make the skeleton material made of rubber airtight container, the ball filled with compressed air can be floated on the water surface, to do for the important buffer medium of the boat, and the boat berthing and the boat and the bow berthing. At the same time, the inflatable rubber ball can absorb the impact energy of the ship’s movement, reduce the ship’s recoil, and greatly improve the safety of the ship’s mooring. Inflatable rubber fenders are more practical and economical than general rubber fenders, so they are widely popular, but considering their inflatable structure, they need to be inflated regularly for fenders and routine maintenance.
Foam Filled Fenders
Foam filled fenders, also known as solid polyurethane floating fenders, are a type of safety and protective equipment that utilizes an internal highly elastic foam as a cushioning medium to absorb and disperse impacts to act as a cushion. It is a more excellent floating fender system than inflatable fenders and is widely used in harbor, offshore, and ship docking operations.
Foam-filled fenders are mainly made of environmentally friendly materials and new polymer materials with adjustable high modulus of elasticity, high strength, high elasticity, high adhesion, and maintenance-free, to ultimately realize the design life and economic value of the structure itself. Because its self-weight is relatively large, so in the dock installation and ship protection selection, usually used alternately with marine inflatable fenders.
Performance Comparison
Energy absorption capacity
Pneumatic Fenders: With strong energy absorption capacity, they can effectively cushion the impact of ships at berth. Air inflatable design makes it in the collision through the way of compressed air to disperse energy, and reduce the damage to the hull.
Foam-filled fenders: have a relatively weak energy absorption capacity, relying mainly on the compression properties of the foam material itself to absorb the impact.
Although it can also provide some cushioning effect, it may not be as effective as the inflatable fender in the case of a large impact.
Durability and life
Pneumatic Fenders: Due to the thinness of the material and its susceptibility to punctures and abrasion, they may deflate under extreme conditions such as sharp objects or extreme weather. Regular inspection and maintenance are required to ensure that the inflatable is in good condition.
Foam-filled fenders: usually made of abrasion-resistant synthetic materials, they are more durable and less susceptible to external environmental influences. It has a longer lifespan and is suitable for long-term use, especially in harsh environments.
Adaptability
Pneumatic Fenders: Highly adaptable, can be adjusted to inflate according to the need, suitable for different types of vessels and environments. Its hardness and elasticity can be adjusted in different seasons or environmental conditions.
Foam filled fenders: fixed shape, less adaptable, suitable for specific application scenarios. The design usually does not have an adjustment function, so it is less adaptable in different conditions.
Maintenance requirements
Inflatable fenders: require regular checking of air pressure and integrity of external materials, and maintenance is more frequent. Any leaks or wear and tear need to be repaired promptly to ensure proper function.
Foam-filled fenders: have lower maintenance requirements and usually only require regular cleaning to check appearance and fixing. Once installed, they require less frequent maintenance in use, which is less laborious.
Case Study
Henger’s client in the Netherlands procured 7pcs of 2×3.5m pneumatic fenders with aircraft tire net to be hung on the both side of the hull for collision defense in 2023.
Malaysia’s customer purchased a batch of foam fenders with truck tire nets 1.2*2 m in 2024 for installation on the port for dock defense.
How to choose the right fender
When choosing the type of fender, you need to choose the best type of fender according to the specific conditions of the installation, environmental requirements, combined with the project budget, if you are in the selection, there are any questions, please feel free to contact with the Henle team members, we will be the first time to provide you with services.
FAQs
For marinas or platforms that are used more frequently, we recommend foam fenders for smaller-sized fenders to settle the budget range, usually, the service life of foam fenders usually ranges from 2-3 years higher than marine inflatable fenders.For larger fenders, we recommend marine inflatable fenders, which will be more cost-effective.
Foam fenders usually don’t require maintenance, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be maintained.
Foam fenders need to be regularly inspected for any sharp objects puncturing the surface, and if there are any, the surface of the fender needs to be maintained promptly in order to extend the life of the fender. The mooring fittings at both ends of the fender also need to be inspected, and if rust is found, they need to be cleaned and replaced promptly.
The suitability of an inflatable fender for extreme weather conditions depends mainly on its material properties and design. Environmental factors such as high temperatures, low temperatures, and strong winds may affect the durability and stability of the inflatable fenders, so adequate performance evaluation and testing are required for use in extreme weather conditions. Inflatable fenders produced by Hengel Marine are strictly under ISO 17357 standard, which ensures that the fenders can work normally from -15°C to 42°C.