Abstract:
Docking of very large ships is a delicate procedure as the kinetic energy associated with large masses of the
ship can result in high impact forces causing damages to the ship, the fenders and even the quay itself. The
expected berthing loads are a key element in quay design. Fenders are usually rubbery flexible elements that
turn the vessel’s kinetic energy into milder reaction forces on the quay by absorbing some of the vessel’s
energy. The characterization of the docking ship and the forces applied on the fenders are usually quantified
with existing design formulae [1][2][3], which assume a single point of impact. However, the pattern and
magnitude of impact forces differ for each fender and are highly dependent on the ship’s approach trajectory
and mass.
