The port area of Manzanillo has a size of around 440 hectares (1,087 acres) with 19 berths that accommodate commercial vessels and cruise ships. Due to a refurbishment of the inland port of San Pedrito, the Port Authority in Manzanillo decided to replace the existing fender systems at all operating berths. The new fender systems had to match the existing fenders in terms of performance and berthing line to ensure a smooth operation, but due to the large variety of berth structures, the fenders had to be customized for each berth.
ShibataFenderTeam’s sales engineers designed a suitable and customized solution and were awarded the order at the beginning of the year. With our Spanish native speakers and experienced colleagues, we combined local contact with international expertise. SFT delivered 66 sets of SPC 1000 Cone Fender Systems (including steel panels of 3,020 by 2,120 mm) for the San Pedrito Terminal. Additionally, the order included 95 Double Bitt Bollards (capacity 150 tonnes) and around 2,000 pieces of UHMW-PE replacement pads in various sizes. It took only six months from placing the order until the installation was finished in June 2020.
ShibataFenderTeam is proud to have been chosen by API Manzanillo for this fender replacement for one of the main container terminals on the Mexican Pacific Coast, and we wish all shipping lines successful operations at San Pedrito Terminal.
Reprinted from Marine Construction Magazine, Issue II, 2024
