Trellex fenders for Kristiansand

Kristiansand needed to be sure that the fendering would be suitable for the catamaran as well as the much larger ferries.

Locally-based consultant RIBA worked with Trellex Fender to design a new system that would meet the contrasting needs. The old cylindrical fenders along the 50×15 metre pier were designed purely for the 40,000 ton displacement ferries and were unsuitable for the catamaran which has a displacement of just 4,000 tons.

The energy to be absorbed for the ferries is about 970 KNm while the value for the catamaran is 245 KNm. It was essential that the new fender system should cater for both levels of energy absorption, in order to provide smooth berthing for both vessels. Combining different elements enabled the designers to develop custommade torsion fenders.

The chosen fenders are known as ‘soft-beginning’ because of the low energy absorption needed for the catamaran. There are two types of fender in the same system, allowing deflection to happen in two stages with a softer initial phase catering for the smaller vessel. This gives the highest possible comfort for passengers.

The first ‘soft beginning’ type of fender was introduced by Trellex to Ronne, Denmark and has also been used successfully in Shioba in Saudi Arabia.