Fender Innovations on hand at Seawork
Netherlands based Seawork exhibitor Fender Innovations has collaborated with Sima Charters in replacing the well used fender system on the former pilot boat Callisto Maassluis.
The Callisto Maassluis is currently used, among other things, for tender services to and from offshore wind farms. The monohull vessel had a complete refit in 2011, at which time it kept the original fender system.
When after the overhaul, the Callisto Maassluis had been back in service for a few months, it became apparent that its performance with regard to speed and fuel consumption failed to meet the optimum figures expected for this type of vessel. At the request of Ruud Lievaart, owner of Sima Charters, Fender Innovations investigated how the performance of the vessel could be improved. The main outcome of the investigation was to conclude that the original fender system had absorbed a large amount of water.
This amount of water added weight to the vessel, which largely explained its underperformance with regard to speed and fuel consumption.The water in the fender system also had a negative effect on its dampening properties. Sima Charters decided to have that fender system replaced completely with new fenders from the Fender Innovations system.
The Fender Innovations fenders are up to 12 times lighter than other systems, available in all shapes and sizes and subject to significantly less wear and tear, thanks to their seamless corner sections. The fenders do not absorb water, making it easy to carry out any emergency repairs to prevent further damage and maintain maximum effectiveness.
All Fender Innovations fender systems are custom made. The vessel and its intended usage are examined carefully before starting the development of a new fender.
For the Callisto, Fender Innovations designed a specific and completely optimised fender. On top of designing and developing this new fender system, the Fender Innovations team carried out the entire process of removing the old fenders from the Callisto, modifying and repairing the hull and mounting the new fenders, and completed this on a very tight schedule.
The results are excellent. After the fender system of the Callisto was replaced, it turned out that the new fenders saved 1,800kg in weight, some 7% of the total weight of the vessel, and the top speed has increased by around two knots. At the same speed, this has resulted in significant fuel savings.
In addition to its enhanced performance with regard to speed and fuel consumption, trial runs have shown that the vessel’s handling and stability have improved as well, partly as a result of its reduced weight.
