2024-07-19
The maritime world has a great deal of specific terms. Both on and off the ship. For example, you will find bollards, fenders and dolphins (mooring masts) in every harbour. Say what?
A bollard is a protrusion on the quay to which you tie your boat. It is usually made of cast steel. As ships get bigger and bigger, bollards need to be able to handle more and more pulling power. Helpful information for those planning a career in maritime infrastructure: there are two types of bollards.
An integrated bollard is cast into the concrete quayside over a section of its length. You can find the oldest ones in use and managed by the Port Authority on the Amerika Dock near the Royers Lock.
They date from around 1887. In the past, discarded cannons sometimes served as bollards. They were set vertically in the concrete and protruded half a metre at the top. You can still find some examples of this at the city port of Le Havre.
An anchored bollard is not cast into the quay wall like an integrated bollard. Instead, it is anchored into the quay's concrete with bolts. This makes it easier to replace and less likely to damage the concrete quay wall in case of overloading.
The newest bollards can be found at the North Sea Terminal. These were renewed in 2023 and can withstand tensile forces of up to 250 tons each. At the port of Antwerp and Bruges, you will find more than 6,000 mooring masts and bollards managed by the Port Authority.
Fenders are soft cushioners along docks or at locks. They prevent damage to the ship or quay when entering the lock or when docking or mooring.
They come in different types, materials and sizes:
A floating fender that protects the ship, such as during towing operations. They look like giant floating rubber buoys. You often see these in areas with strong low tide and high tide. A pneumatic fender is filled with air. This can leak and deflate if damaged. The foam-filled floating fender does not have that problem, so you will see it more often.
The lifespan of a fender is 20 years with normal use. The very latest fenders can be found at the Zweedse Quay in Zeebrugge. The dimensions of the fenders are related to the speed of the ship at which it comes against the quay and to the vessel's displacement. At the port of Antwerp and Bruges, you will find more than 2,000 of them.
A dolphin is a heavy pole or structure in the middle of the water that you can tie ships to. These are usually made of steel; they used to be made of wood.
De herkomst van het bijzondere woord dukdalf is onzeker, maar komt volgens sommige woordenboeken van de Spaanse hertog van Alva (in het Frans: Duc d’Alva), die in de 16de eeuw een schrikbewind voerde over de Vlaamse Nederlanden.
Al deze maritieme infrastructuur vraagt regelmatig onderhoud en nazicht. Bij Port of Antwerp-Bruges houdt een gespecialiseerd inspectieteam de toestand van deze infrastructuur, zoals de fenders en meerpalen, nauwlettend in het oog.
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