Would you purchase a vehicle that provided marginally better performance or was marginally less expensive than conventional vehicles, but had only one supplier on the planet for replacement parts? Where even basic maintenance items will have a long lead time and a handsome price tag.
Prepared to take that risk? OK - one other thing, the vehicle you are purchasing is your primary source of income without which your operation (and income) is shut down!
Strangely enough, this scenario is played out in the fendering industry where a supplier's designs can lock terminals into pile and/or concrete quay designs which are configured to accept only that supplier's fenders. With multiple established and reputable fendering companies in the world, it is imperative that consultants and customers alike consider longterm costs, replacement alternatives, and the implications of designing supporting structures around a single source provider.
Fenders are inherently subjected to abusive conditions and can be expected to be suffer damage. As alternative suppliers are asked to provide competitive replacement parts or replacement of whole systems, under investigation it is sometimes discovered that the original supplier had a liberal perspective of berthing velocities or reaction limitations which in-service have proven to be incorrect.
At tender time, fender costs and supporting structure costs were attractive but replacement and/or repair costs are now insurmountable.
Replacement in-kind in most instances is the only solution leaving the end user with the high probability of ongoing and expensive replacements. Economical at the onset, disastrous later.
Consultants and customers need to be exceedingly diligent at tender time to ensure that multiple suppliers for substitute systems do exist. Additionally, careful examination must be made between providers offering vastly different proposals. Realistically, performance differences amongst various manufacturers are minimal as are cost differences for similar systems.
If Proposal A is based on a smaller fender than Proposal B and both companies are reputable, with demonstrable credentials and supporting engineering calculations, then Proposal A has typically taken some design latitude which may not pass the 'in-service test'.
Following is a list of supporting information which should be asked of any potential fendering supplier: a.All engineering calculations shall be submitted with the proposal at tender time b.All engineering assumptions used in those calculations shall be clearly stated in a separate summary report c.Written confirmation that the product proposed is a conventional product which is widely supplied by reputable, established manufacturers shall be provided d.Statement of specific exceptions taken to the customer?s specifications shall be provided.
As a fiercely competitive and mature industry, fendering manufacturers will often try to influence specifications toward products which allow them to provide the most competitive, yet profitable solutions. This may, of course, run counter to the best long-term interests of the customer.
This article was contributed by David LeBlanc, Vice President of Maritime International, FenderCare Marine Solutions.
