Kyokuyo has installed 6 sets of roller fender systems in its main building dock. Together with block factory refurbishment, this is the highlight of the series of investments that the company has been focusing on to upgrade its overall manufacturing process efficiency.

For Kyokuyo who builds vessels of a width very close to 23.4m, dock's physical size, undocking of a ship without any damage to the paintwork has been a sensitive task. In order to ensure a solid building capacity of 6 x 1,000TEU container carriers per year, we need to undock, or launch, a vessel just as scheduled, regardless of weather condition or wind speed.

So here comes the new device, called roller fender, which Kyokuyo jointly developed with Toa Corporation. 3 pairs of these detachable equipments can effectively protect the vessel from contact with dock wall. They were actually used for S491, 13,400tdw multi-purpose cargo carrier that was launched on June 15, and did a good job, as expected.

The roller fenders help shorten the outfitting period as well, since they eliminate the needs for final docking.

[2009/07/06]