SFT equips Van Harinxma Kanaal with fender systems

Towards the end of 2017, just before Christmas, ShibataFenderTeam received an order for the delivery of two SPC 1600 Cone Fender Systems (G3.0) for Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. We believe this to be the largest fender system on a canal for inland vessels.

The canal is 37.5 km long and runs from Harlingen via Leeuwarden to finally connect onto the “Prinses Magriet Kanaal" close to Sauwoude. At the location “Zwettebrug” the canal crosses with the 3 major railroads that connect Leeuwarden with Harlingen, Stavoren and Zwolle.

The canal and bridges have been upgraded allowing for inland vessels of CEMT class IV vessels.
A CEMT class IV vessel has a load capacity of 2,000 t and an overall length of 105 m, a width of 9.5 m and a draft of maximum 3.0 m.

The importance of a crossing between rail and water traffic imposed special requirements. The foundation and fender guide wall had to be designed for a head on collision. Together with the contractor “De Boer & de Groot” a solution was proposed that included a sacrificial pile and a single large SPC 1600 Cone Fender system with a fender body that weighs nearly 4.4 t. The total berthing energy requirement was 6,550 kNm. Out of that 4,000 kNm will be supplied by the sacrificial pile and 2,617 kNm by the fender system.

By the end of February 2018, we delivered our fenders for the “Van Harinxma kanaal” and just one month later, on March 28th, the entire job was completed and commissioned on time.