Marine Mooring Bollard Maintenance Tips to Follow

Marine mooring bollards are vital equipment for all marinas and harbors. They provide a secure point of contact to connect the mooring lines of vessels to the jetties or wharves of the port.

Each mooring bollard must be capable of withstanding the tremendous forces that large vessels exert on them. They must be manufactured from high-strength materials to guarantee durable performance.

ESC mooring bollards are engineered accurately and manufactured in ductile cast iron or steel supplied with high-quality galvanized anchor bolts to offer our clients maximum resistance to berthing impact.

When looking for a marine mooring bollard supplier, the client must provide vital information about your project to a trusted supplier who understands the required International Standards and regulations, the level of support needed by your port, and all the other details associated with bollard production.

Once you have these bollards installed on your dockyards, it's also important to have an inspection and maintenance schedule in place as an essential safety feature and optimal performance.

In this guide, we'll explain how to inspect and maintain mooring bollards to ensure they remain within their designed strength parameters.

What Are Mooring Bollards?

There are many types of mooring bollards; ESC has a wide range of options to ensure we provide solutions to every application, each type suitable for different uses and loads. Mooring bollards are a vital component of any mooring system. It is the anchor point for mooring lines mounted on the deck to secure the ship or vessel.

No matter the bollard's design, they all serve the same purpose. That is to attach the mooring wires - or lines - of a vessel to the harbor quay. Depending on the design profile, they can accommodate one or more mooring lines.

There are various types of marine bollards, including t-head, t-horn, kidney-shaped bollards, cleat, single-bitt bollards, double-bitt bollards, pillar bollards, tricorn bollards, T-head Japanese and Pillar Japanese bollards.

Most common bollards have a hook or T-shape to prevent the ropes from slipping off. This is particularly important for harbors with a sizeable tidal variation. As the vessel moves, it changes the angle of the mooring line and requires a specialized bollard like the T-Horn to keep a secure connection. To find out more about mooring bollards type and applications click here.

To ensure the safety and efficient performance of the mooring bollards, you need to guarantee that they are in good working condition to use in daily mooring operations.

Due to their exposure to seawater, they are at high risk of corrosion which can significantly affect their service life. It is crucial to perform routine maintenance to extend the service life and reduce the possible damages to the installed mooring bollards.

How to Clean and Maintain a Mooring Bollard?

Bollards are constantly exposed to the elements and the corrosive effect of sea splashes.

Although they are low-maintenance equipment, it's essential to conduct periodic inspections. These should include examining the following:

• Surface inspection for scratches/damage to paint and corrosion of the material.

• Compare barrel thickness with manufacturer specifications

• Check with a torque wrench that all the anchor bolts are sufficiently tight

• Ensure anchor bolts are adequately coated and corrosion free

• Inspect grout under bollard and replace if necessary

A quarterly assessment should be performed in cases with recognizable irregular behaviors. A relevant corrective action should be taken to maintain its required performance.

Any chips or cracks in the paint should be repaired immediately to prevent corrosion from forming. Cast steel is particularly susceptible to corrosion. It needs regular repainting as per the manufacturer's specifications.

How to Reinforce Mooring Bollards?

Daily pulling of the mooring bollards may result in possible loosening.

Bollards are generally attached to the surface of a quay with galvanized bolts and grout. In some cases, the bolts are secured on the undersurface with a through bolting system. This provides a stronger connection than surface-mounted bollards.

For extra reinforcement, a base plate is sometimes used to provide additional support. These improve the strength rating of deck-mounted bollards on vessels. It is necessary to pay attention to the support conditions and the regular examination for the tightness, guaranteeing strength.

Are You Looking for a Marine Mooring Bollard Supplier?

A mooring bollard is essential to every harbor and ship docking facility. If you're looking for an industry leader in the production of bollards, then contact ESC Marine Systems.

We have over 30 years of experience supplying high-quality bollards to many customers. Our manufacturing facilities are strategically located worldwide to provide you with superior service.