Keyhole composite fenders

A Keyhole fender is a type of marine fender designed to provide impact protection while managing lateral loads. These fenders are manufactured as composite units that combine elastic rubber elements with low-friction polymer surfaces to allow relative sliding under contact. The construction aims to limit shear forces during vessel-to-structure or vessel-to-vessel contact. Keyhole fenders are used where controlled sliding and energy absorption are required to protect hulls and quay structures.

Keyhole fenders are made from composite materials combining elastomeric rubber with ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) or similar low-friction polymers. The rubber component provides elastic energy absorption and surface resilience, while the UHMW-PE offers a hard, low-friction contact face that reduces wear and sliding resistance. This material combination is selected to balance impact mitigation and controlled sliding under shear loads. Contact our team for technical advice on material selection for specific operational conditions.

Keyhole fenders are used to protect vessels and marine structures where lateral movement and rubbing occur, such as tugboat fender applications, pushing stern fenders, and berth protection. They are applied where reducing shear forces and enabling controlled sliding between contacting surfaces is important. Typical use cases include vessel manoeuvring, pushing operations, and berthing scenarios where both energy absorption and low-friction contact are required to limit damage to hulls and quay structures.

Keyhole fenders reduce shear forces by combining an energy-absorbing rubber body with a low-friction UHMW-PE contact surface. The polymer face lowers friction during sliding contact, while the elastomeric core dissipates impact energy and accommodates deformation. Together these features limit peak lateral loads transmitted to the hull or structure. Actual shear reduction depends on installation, contact geometry, and operating conditions; consult our team for application-specific assessment and recommendations.