Application of Pile Fender system for Upgrading of Existing Quay

A 120-m length, loading/unloading, pier at Kuwait Naval Base (KNB) is an open quay type. The pier face was protected by timber fender piling system. The system did not include any wale members. Both of the fender and pier elements undergo multiple deterioration. Urgently, the loading pier is expected to receive a bigger ship size than the designed one (6000 ton). The expected size of cargo ship is 10000-40000 ton. It was requested to install a fendering system in such a way to perform the next major concrete repair easily and limit the eccentric berthing reaction force to 450 KN. Therefore, the proposed fender system was completely detached from the quay. To meet the condition of allowed horizontal reaction force we employed the fender piles as part of berthing forces absorption system. This was effective approach where about 15% of the energy absorbed by the pile itself before the fender touch the copping beam, and then it absorbs about 10% after the fender had been deflected. The balance of the energy is absorbed by the fender units itself. Eventually, the performance of overall system resulted in reaction force less than the limit value and safe operation.