How To Store Pneumatic Fenders For Long Periods Of Time

Most customers who have purchased a boat tying ball do not know how to take good care of it. After all, the usage rate of marine berthing balls is relatively high under normal circumstances, and there may be no need to deflate and store them. Many of them may make some mistakes or use them incorrectly once you need to deflate them for storage. Many ship-to-ship operations and ports simply stack ship-to-ship balls when not using them or placing them in very harsh environments. Improper storage methods will cause the marine ball rubber material to accelerate aging, and it is very likely that it has been damaged during storage before use. Large marine fenders are quite expensive, and I don’t think you want to see the quality fenders you purchased get damaged due to improper storage, rendering you no longer able to use them. Today I would like to share with you how to properly store boat prop balls.

1.First of all, what is a PENUMTIC FENDERS?

Peumatic fenders are an indispensable and important ship product for ship-to-ship and ship-to-dock operations. It is a maritime safety protection system. In seas with constant waves, it protects two ships from collision when docked. It usually consists of a cylindrical rubber sphere, galvanized steel flange cages at both ends and an inflatable nozzle. The commonly used marine fenders are the type with chain tire nets, also known as marine inflatable fenders. It comes in different sizes to suit ships of different tonnage. When in use, inflate to working pressure and install around the hull. You can deflate it and store it in the warehouse when not in use, which is very convenient.

2.How to properly store the PENUMTIC FENDER if it is not used for a long time?

2-1 Keep away from fire and heat sources
The material of marine ball support is natural rubber. This material will cause the rubber to melt in a high temperature environment and accelerate the aging of the rubber. So if you’re in the tropics, keep it in a cool place and away from fire during long-term storage.

2-2 Keep a small amount of air inside the pneumatic fender

In order to avoid the adhesion of the rubber inside the inflatable fender during long-term contact, it is recommended to inflate the marine ball to a low pressure state of about 20kpa~30kpa. This can protect the internal rubber material well in high temperature environments. Of course, we also recommend it for non-high temperature storage. Rubber itself has the characteristics of easy bonding.

2-3 Keep away from corrosive chemicals

All rubber products are not completely resistant to corrosion and strong acid and alkali chemical liquids. Therefore, if there are corrosive liquids, strong acids and strong alkali chemicals in the warehouse during storage, be sure to stay away from these things during storage. For example, we usually use some disinfectants, rust removers, bleach, etc. In fact, seawater also has a certain pH, so marine balls that are often soaked on the shore of the port are more likely to age and crack. These are completely correct methods.

2-4 Do not stack and store marine prop balls

Many companies that need to use a large number of marine fenders will stack marine inflatable fenders in order to save storage space. This is a very wrong storage method! Especially in areas with hot weather, stacking and storage can easily cause the external rubber material to melt and deform, and the marine ball to stick. The correct storage method is to store them individually.

Summarize

Marine fenders require more frequent maintenance and attention than foam fenders and rubber fenders. Proper storage methods can avoid unnecessary loss of inflatable fenders. During long-term storage, check the marine fender every 3-6 months to see whether the marine fender body is damaged, whether it needs to be re-inflated, whether the sheathed tires are worn, whether the metal parts are rusted, etc. Safety at sea and at berthing is no small matter. A small damage to a fender could very well result in a tragic boating accident.

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