Dont forget fenders in the planning stage

“In a lot of cases where customers need to provide a flexible fender solution – in the offshore environment, for example – they might not look at that until it is too late in the design stage to make sure they are choosing the optimum solution. We would hope they get us involved in the design and feasibility stage,”he says.

“Supply and demand is a problem. There needs to be a lead time, design period, etc. Customers involved in developments often think they can order and get fendering in four weeks instead of the more usual 16 to 20 weeks. FenderCare does keep stock – but of course you can’t stock bespoke items.”

FenderCare has recently announced the launch of a new initiative, FenderCare Integrated Mooring Systems, formed to consolidate the supply of its products and services for safe berthing and mooring.

“The idea is that we will provide all the equipment and products in an integrated format so all the electronic elements of the system talk to each other and the customer is not trying to integrate products from different companies,”says Redford.

FenderCare, which has been part of James Fisher since March 2005, wants to get involved at the early stage of a project to increase the “operational envelope” of a facility in different weather conditions, he says.

“We combine the knowledge we have with our marine expertise to supply a whole system with through-life service and care.”