What Are Pneumatic Fenders?

A pneumatic fender is also called a Yokohama rubber fender. It was developed by the Japanese Yokohama Rubber Company in 1958. So, it has other names: Yokohama Fender or Yokohama Pneumatic Fender. Yokohama fenders are advanced protective devices used to protect ships and terminal facilities. These Yokohama floating fenders are widely used in marine collision avoidance. They are made of high-strength rubber. The Yokohama rubber fender contains compressed air, which allows the pneumatic fender to float on the water. These fenders can absorb energy during ship-to-ship (STS) operations or mooring. They provide softer reaction forces to the vessel. And Yokohama fenders are lightweight and easily deflated. Their installation and redeployment are simple.

Unlike traditional elastic rubber fenders such as scrap tires or solid rubber fenders. Yokohama marine fenders have significant advantages. Such as high energy absorption, low pressure per unit area of the ship, excellent impact resistance, and easy installation. The Yokohama rubber fender has a long service life and low maintenance cost. It is suitable for harsh environments. All Jerryborg Yokohama fenders are fully ISO 17357-1:2014 compliant.

Yokohama Fender Structure

A Pneumatic fender mainly includes inner rubber, outer rubber, steel wire mesh, and air valve. All components of Yokohama Fender are combined into a whole after high-temperature vulcanization. So, the pneumatic marine fender has high strength, fatigue, and impact resistance. Also, Yokohama pneumatic Fenders have the advantages of thermal stability and good adhesion.

As a leading Yokohama fender manufacturer in China, Jerryborg Marine also provides custom pneumatic fender design services.

Rubber Outer Layer: The outer layer of Yokohama Fender is usually made of wear-resistant rubber. It has good corrosion resistance and UV resistance. This layer of rubber skin can effectively absorb and disperse collision energy and reduce impact.

Inner Leak-proof Layer: Inside the rubber, the outer layer is usually leak-proof. Its purpose is to prevent gas leakage. This inner layer is usually made of corrosion-resistant materials with good sealing properties.

Air Valve: The pneumatic fender is equipped with an air valve inside. We use gas valves to regulate and maintain internal gas pressure. You can control the hardness and elasticity of the fender by adjusting the gas pressure. This allows adaptation to different vessel and environmental conditions.

Connectors: The Yokohama pneumatic fender is often equipped with connectors. This makes it easier to connect to a dock or other structure. These connections may be chains, cables, or other suitable connecting devices.

Pneumatic Fender structure
Jerryborg-Yokohama-Rubber-Fenders
Jerryborg-rubber-pneumatic-fender
new-Pneumatic-Fender-of-Jeeryborg-Marine

Advantages of Jerryborg Marine yokohama rubber fender

Safety and reliability: Jerryborg Yokohama Rubber Fenders are designed with a primary focus on safety. Their robust construction ensures reliable performance under various berthing conditions. They significantly reduce the risk of accidents or damage to vessels and docking structures.

No deterioration or variation: Jerryborg pneumatic fenders maintain consistent performance throughout their service life. This means they provide predictable and constant protection. Yet, they are not affected by aging or environmental factors.

Well inclined berthing: Jerryborg fenders are particularly effective in accommodating vessels that berth at an angle. This flexibility is crucial in complex docking situations. It ensures that vessels are safeguarded against damage even when they cannot berth perpendicularly.

Soft reaction force: Jerryborg fenders are engineered to absorb and distribute berthing ships’ energy gently. They reduce the impact on both the vessel and the jetty structure. This soft reaction force is critical in preventing damage. It also maintains the integrity of the structures involved.

Lower mooring forces: In challenging weather conditions, Jerryborg fenders perform exceptionally well. They reduce the strain on mooring equipment. This feature is vital for ensuring the safety and stability of moored vessels during storms or high winds.

Against shearing force: The design and materials used in Jerryborg Yokohama Rubber Fenders make them highly resistant to shearing forces. This resistance is essential in dynamic marine environments. Lateral movements of ships can exert significant shear stresses on fendering systems.

Adaptable to the tide: Jerryborg fenders adjust to changes in tide levels. These marine fenders can maintain their protective function regardless of the water level. This ability to float by itself ensures there is always protection that works well without needing manual changes.

Low installation cost: Jerryborg fenders are designed for easy installation and need minimal maintenance. This simplicity reduces the overall costs associated with their use. They are an economical choice for many ports and harbors.

Low delivery cost: Jerryborg Yokohama rubber fenders also have advantages in terms of logistics. Fenders are usually packed and shipped in a container or pallet in a collapsed state. This packaging method adds to their overall economic benefits.

Pneumatic-Yokohama-Rubber-Fenders
Pneumatic-Fendes-of-Jerryborg-marine
Pneumatic-Fender-With-Tire
Pneumatic-Fender-Quality-Check

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Pneumatic Fender Applications

  • In a port with dramatic tidal changes
  • Ship-to-ship ignition operations
  • Oil and Gas (Typical FSRU)
  • Temporary berth

Two Main Production Technology of Pneumatic Fender

Integrative Twining Technology

Wrapped pneumatic rubber fenders are manufactured using an integral winding technique. Their surface may not be as smooth as molded pneumatic fenders. But they still meet the performance standards specified in ISO 17357. Moreover, these fenders come at a significantly lower price. They are available in sling, chain, and tire net types. You can equip truck or aircraft tires on the fender’s body.

Molded Production Technology

Molded pneumatic rubber fenders are crafted using a distinct mold, unlike wrapped fenders. This production technique mirrors Yokohama Rubber’s approach. These fenders boast a remarkably smooth surface.This surface provides enhanced performance and a prolonged lifespan. But Molded Yokohama Fender comes at a higher price point. Its safety valve is also different from a manual pneumatic fender.

standard Yokohama Fender Sizes

As a professional Yokohama fenders manufacturer, we produce pneumatic fenders with initial pressures of 50kPa (pneumatic 50) and 80kPa (pneumatic 80). All pressure values of our Yokohama rubber fenders fully comply with the requirements of ISO 17357.

IP50 Performance Pressure (at GEA) kPa Pressures Body Thickness mm Mooring Chain Diameter mm
Dia. × Length (mm) Energy (GEA) kJ Reaction (at GEA) kN Pressure (at GEA) kPa Body Only kg Chain Net (e×cl body) kg Sling Type Relief Valve kPa Proof Test kPa
Ø300 × 600L 0.5 24 134 15 – 20 – 200 12 13
Ø500 × 1000L 6 64 132 24 121 35 – 200 12 16
Ø600 × 1000L 8 74 126 28 132 39 – 200 12 16
Ø700 × 1500L 17 137 135 50 165 60 – 200 13 16
Ø800 × 1500L 24 158 132 64 280 72 – 200 14 16
Ø1000 × 1500L 33 182 122 80 220 107 – 200 14 16
Ø1000 × 2000L 46 257 132 97 242 124 – 200 14 16
Ø1200 × 3000L 109 482 134 250 435 280 – 200 14 16
Ø1350 × 2500L 104 427 130 220 385 264 – 200 15 16
Ø1500 × 2500L 125 464 126 243 484 287 – 200 16 19
Ø1500 × 3000L 156 579 132 275 583 319 – 200 16 19
Ø1500 × 4000L 230 815 130 330 690 380 – 200 16 19
Ø1700 × 3000L 195 639 128 319 638 363 – 200 16 19
Ø1700 × 7200L 516 1621 133 760 N/A 810 – 200 16 22
Ø2000 × 3000L 260 727 122 403 990 469 – 200 16 22
Ø2000 × 3500L 314 875 128 445 1056 502 – 200 17 22
Ø2000 × 4000L 361 1020 125 490 1150 540 – 200 16 22
Ø2000 × 6000L 611 1631 136 658 1650 720 – 200 16 26
Ø2500 × 4000L 676 1381 137 992 1364 1188 175 250 18 26
Ø2500 × 5500L 962 2019 148 1199 2035 1452 175 250 18 32
Ø2500 × 9100L 1631 3482 140 2150 3467 2230 175 250 18 32
Ø3000 × 5000L 1136 2021 154 1520 1800 1640 175 250 19 32
Ø3300 × 4500L 1198 1884 130 1606 1881 2024 175 250 20 36
Ø3300 × 6500L 1850 3015 146 2057 2827 2475 175 250 20 38
Ø3300 ×10600L 3128 5257 158 2816 5126 3366 175 250 22 48
Ø4500 × 7000L 3302 3796 133 3740 4290 3880 175 250 24 48
Ø4500 × 9000L 4847 5747 146 4334 5929 – 175 250 24 50
Ø4500 ×12000L 6602 7984 154 5269 7689 – 175 205 24 58

The data in the table adheres to the ISO 17357 standards.
The Yokohama fender body and net weight can vary by up to ±10%. The net weights reflect Jerryborg’s standard design.
Upon request, we can provide pneumatic fenders in special sizes.

IP80 Performance Fender Weight Pressures Body Thickness mm Mooring Chain Diameter mm
Dia. x Length (mm) Energy (GEA) kJ Reaction (at GEA) kN Pressure (at GEA) kPa Body Only kg Chain Net (e×cl body) kg Sling Type Relief Valve kPa Proof Test kPa
Ø300 × 600L 0.6     17 – 20 – 250 13 13
Ø500 × 1000L 8 85 174 26 121 37 – 250 13 16
Ø600 × 1000L 11 98 166 30 132 42 – 250 13 16
Ø700 × 1500L 24 180 177 52 165 63 – 250 14 16
Ø800 × 1500L 31 204 180 71 280 83 – 250 15 16
Ø1000 × 1500L 45 239 160 84 220 111 – 250 15 16
Ø1000 × 2000L 64 338 174 101 242 129 – 250 15 16
Ø1200 × 2000L 89 390 166 149 352 176 – 250 15 16
Ø1200 × 3000L 140 623 185 275 435 310 – 250 16 16
Ø1350 × 2500L 144 561 170 226 385 270 – 250 17 16
Ø1500 × 2500L 174 610 166 268 484 312 – 250 17 19
Ø1500 × 3000L 218 761 174 339 583 355 – 250 17 20
Ø1500 × 4000L 296 1053 176 363 690 378 – 250 17 20
Ø1700 × 3000L 272 840 168 348 638 392 – 250 17 20
Ø1700 × 7200L 668 2096 170 795 N/A 845 – 250 18 22
Ø2000 × 3000L 363 955 160 413 990 479 – 200 19 22
Ø2000 × 3500L 438 1150 168 454 1056 520 – 250 19 24
Ø2000 × 4000L 520 1380 173 505 1150 535 – 250 19 24
Ø2000 × 6000L 791 2109 170 724 1650 810 230 300 18 28
Ø2500 × 4000L 944 1815 180 1111 1364 1309 230 300 20 30
Ø2500 × 5500L 1343 2653 185 1670 1800 1850 230 300 21 34
Ø2500 × 9100L 2293 4505 199 2360 3467 2450 230 300 20 38
Ø3300 × 4500L 1673 2476 171 1892 1881 2299 230 300 22 34
Ø3300 × 6500L 2583 3961 191 2420 2827 2827 230 300 22 42
Ø3300 ×10600L 4366 6907 208 3333 5126 3872 230 300 23 54
Ø4500 × 7000L 4608 4988 174 4136 4301 4350 230 300 26 54
Ø4500 × 9000L 6766 7551 192 4818 5929 – 230 300 26 58
Ø4500 ×12000L 9218 14490 202 5863 7689 – 230 300 26 58

The data in the table adheres to the ISO 17357 standards.
The Yokohama fender body and net weight can vary by up to ±10%. The net weights reflect Jerryborg’s standard design.
Upon request, we can provide pneumatic fenders in special sizes.

Properties of Outer and Inner Rubber Material

No. Test Item Test Method Required Value
Outer Rubber Inner Rubber
1 Before Aging ————- ————-
1-1 Tensile Strength ISO 37 : 2005 ≥18 MPa ≥10 MPa
1-2 Elongation ISO 37 : 2005 ≥400 % ≥400 %
1-3 Durometer

Hardness

(A type)

 ISO 7619 1 : 2004

ISO 7619-1 : 2004

 60 ± 10

60 ± 10

 50 ± 10

50 ±10
2 After Aging ISO 188 : 2007 Air oven aging 70±1 , 96 h Air oven aging 70±1 , 96 h
2-1 Tensile Strength ISO 37 : 2005 Not less than 80% of the original property Not less than 80% of the original property
2-2 Elongation ISO 37 : 2005 Not less than 80% of the original property Not less than 80% of the original property
2-3 Durometer

Hardness (A type)

 ISO 37 : 2005 Not to exceed the original property by more than 80% Not to exceed the original property by more than 80%
3 Tear ISO 34-1 : 2004 ≥400 N/cm No requirement
4 Compression Set ISO 815 : 2008 30 % (70±1 for 22 h)

or less

 No requirement
 5 Static Ozone Aging Test ISO 1431-1 : 2004 No crack after elongation by 20% and exposure to 50 pphm at 40 for 96h No requirement

Pneumatic Rubber Fender Types

Type I: Sling Pneumatic Rubber Fender

Sling Pneumatic Rubber Fenders are made from layers of durable rubber. And we reinforce them with synthetic tire cords. This structure makes them resilient and robust. They are air-filled, effectively allowing them to absorb a berthing ship’s kinetic energy. This cushioning effect minimizes the risk of damage during impact. Jerryborg Sling pneumatic rubber fenders offer high energy absorption with a low reaction force. We make them suitable for protecting a wide range of vessel sizes.

Type II: Pneumatic Fender With Tire & Chain Net

These fenders consist of a pneumatic rubber core. On the outside is a protective mesh made of tires connected by chains. Rubber core absorbs impact energy. The tires and chain mesh provide extra wear resistance. This combination ensures higher energy absorption capacity. It also allows pneumatic fenders to distribute impact forces more evenly. This fender is particularly suitable for harsh marine environments. It is also ideal for various ships, including large cargo ships and oil tankers.

Type III: Hydropneumatic Fender

Hydropneumatic fenders use air and water in separate chambers to absorb impact energy. They are particularly effective at accommodating vessels that berth at an angle. They provide a softer and more controlled cushioning effect. Hydropneumatic fenders are ideal where a softer berthing process is required. Such as sensitive cargo or delicate hull structures.

How To Choose a Suitable Floating Rubber Fender For STS Operation?

The marine fender selection procedure for STS operations is outlined below.

  • First, Consider two ship’ types and sizes. Weather conditions such as Calm, Moderate, and Rough are initially confirmed.

  • Second: The selections are designed based on Calm weather conditions. If the weather is confirmed as Calm, the Fender system can be simply selected from the tables.

 

Quick Reference Guide to Yokohama Fender Selection for STS Operations

PETROLEUM, CHEMICALS and LIQUEFIED GASSES
Equivalent
Displacement
Coefficient (C)		 Relative Velocity Berthing Energy Suggested Fenders
Tonnes m / s Tonnes.m Diameter × Length (m) Quanitity
1,000 0.3 2.4 1.0 × 2.0 3 or more
3,000 0.3 7 1.5 × 3.0 〃
6,000 0.3 14 2.5 × 5.5 〃
10,000 0.25 17 2.5 × 5.5 〃
30,000 0.25 40 3.3 × 6.5 4 or more
50,000 0.2 48 3.3 × 6.5 〃
100,000 0.15 54 3.3 × 6.5 〃
150,000 0.15 71 3.3 × 6.5 5 or more
200,000 0.15 93 3.3 × 6.5 〃
330,000 0.15 155 4.5 × 9.0 4 or more
500,000 0.15 231 4.5 × 9.0 〃

Qualified Pneumatic Rubber Fenders

Jerruborg Marine is a professional Yokohama Fenders manufacturer. And our products meet third-party certifications.

Our certificates include: ISO 17357, BV, SGS, CCS, DNV, ABS, LR.

ISO 17357

We offer a comprehensive warranty on our pneumatic fenders. The standard warranty period is two years from the date of buy. We ensure that any issues under normal operating conditions will be resolved promptly and efficiently. Please see our Warranty Policy for specific warranty terms and conditions. Or you can contact our customer service team.

ISO 17357-1:2014 specifies high-quality marine fenders’ material, performance, and testing requirements. The standard covers various aspects such as size, shape, internal pressure, and durability. These requirements ensure the safety and efficiency of pneumatic fenders. They are essential during mooring or berthing operations.

Yokohama Fenders is a specific brand of pneumatic rubber fenders. Yokohama Rubber Company originally manufactured it. This type of marine fender is widely used in offshore applications. Pneumatic fenders generally use air as the main component to absorb energy. It is suitable for ship berthing and terminal operations. Essentially, Yokohama fenders fall into the category of aerodynamic fenders. Both types of marine fenders are known for their quality and reliability in marine environments.

No, we use Integrative Twining Technology. This method often involves a complex web of reinforcing layers. It can enhance the strength and durability of the fender. This reinforcement makes the fender more resistant to wear, tear, and punctures. This design can be adapted to produce fenders of various sizes and shapes. It can meet specific requirements. These fenders can sometimes be easier to repair due to their layered construction.

repair policy Of Yokohama Rubber Fenders Manufacturer

When you buy our pneumatic fenders, we will equip them with free repair parts. And we provide a detailed maintenance manual. Of course, you can also send it back to us for repair.

When Do You Need To Replace The Marine Fender

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+86 18765259568

[email protected]

No.1, Xishanqian Industrial Park, Jimo District 266200, Qingdao City, China.


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