3/5/2014

Trelleborg Marine secures fender contract in Brunei

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By Mike McNulty

CLEARBROOK, Va.—Trelleborg Marine Systems has landed a large contract to produce 114 of its SeaGuard foam fenders for a major wharf project in the nation of Brunei.

It will make the polyurethane elastomer foam fenders for Brunei Shell's Kuala Belait supply base wharf as part an upgrade project headed up by Brunei contractor Waqi Sdn Bhd. Financial details were not released.

Trelleborg Marine, an operating unit within the Trelleborg Offshore and Construction division of Trelleborg A.B., will supply about 93 fenders to span six berthing spaces, covering the length of the 325-meter wharf.

Headquartered in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates federation, the company also will produce an additional 21 fenders as spares for the project in Brunei, located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.

Trelleborg Marine manufactures the SeaGuard foam fenders at its factory in Clearbrook, one of four production facilities it operates in the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia and China, a company spokeswoman said. It also operates 12 offices around the globe and employs about 250.

Its foam fenders, donuts and buoys share a construction technology centered on a closed-cell polyethylene foam core with an outer skin made of reinforced polyurethane elastomers, she said.

"The closed cell foam structure means that they cannot puncture or sink," the spokeswoman said. "Every cell is separate ... so water cannot migrate into the foam. Even after many years of active service, the foam can be returned to the factory, re-skinned and made ready for a new lease on life."

Although rubber remains the traditional material of choice for fenders, Trelleborg Marine President Richard Hepworth said "foam fenders have significant advantages over rubber in many cases. For Kuala Belait, a fast turnaround was essential."

Delivery of the fenders began in late January and is expected to be completed in March, he said.

The foam fenders can be installed quickly and require low maintenance, according to Steven Raaj, operations director for the project. Trelleborg Marine said low maintenance is required because the polyurethane elastomer is highly resistant to the effects of ozone and ultra violet light.

Trelleborg Marine was previously awarded the largest foam fender contract ever, the firm said, delivering more than 700 SeaGuard foam fenders and accessories to the Port of Marseille.