In March 2014, an oil tanker traveling on the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, collided with one of the piers of the Memorial Bridge – a busy thoroughfare for cyclists, cars and pedestrians.
Thanks to the fender system in use on the bridge, neither the ship nor the pier sustained damage, and a potential environmental disaster was avoided.
The 600-foot vessel Seapride was outbound on the Piscataqua River, carrying fuel to be off-loaded, when it struck the pier. The bridge sustained only minimal damage thanks to protection from a system consisting of 22 Super Cone fenders supplied by Trelleborg. One fender was knocked off completely, while the two adjacent to it suffered damage.
The fender system worked by absorbing the force of the impact, protecting the bridge and ensuring the safety of those who cross it daily. At the same time, it safeguarded the hull of the vessel, preventing an environmental disaster.
It had previously been questioned whether fenders were necessary to protect the piers, given how unlikely it was that such an incident would occur. Speaking after the collision, Bill Boynton of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation said, “The fender system did what it was designed to do and protected the piers. I’m certainly glad they were put in.”
As a result of the effective protection, lift operations at the bridge were not affected, and the structure was kept open to vehicle traffic throughout the incident and subsequent investigations. Moreover, there was no risk to the many drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who use the bridge for their daily commute.
Richard Hepworth, President within Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, is thankful that the right solution was in place. “The potential seriousness of this incident, and the damage that could have been done had the fender systems not been in place, demonstrates just how essential it is to have them there,” he says. “The fenders protected not only the bridge but the vessel too. Had the vessel been seriously damaged, it could have resulted in the spillage of the diesel it was carrying – with serious environmental implications.”
Archer Western Contractors worked with Trelleborg to supply the fenders for the project. Stephen A. DelGrosso, Senior Project Manager with Archer, says, “We worked closely together in the design of the fender systems, and were impressed with Trelleborg’s ability to provide a solution that fitted exactly with the needs of the project.”
Trelleborg supplied the fender systems in 2013, along with chains and accessories. Eleven systems were supplied to protect each of the two piers supporting the span of the bridge. Further fender systems will be supplied as replacements for those damaged by the collision.
