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New Tideland Buoy For Port Of Neath
Created on
09 March 2009 by host
0 Comments | Categories: Industry News
The Port of Neath has chosen Tideland's newly launched SB-2200 polyethylene buoy to replace a broken GRP buoy marking the port side of the channel for ships entering the tidal estuary of the River Neath in Swansea Bay.
The buoy is one of a pair which, together with Tideland's red mast-mounted SolaLED-140 lanterns and unlit green posts, mark the channel for ships up to 125 metres overall to a number of wharves on both banks of the river. Harbour Manager Bob Minty commented: "Conditions in Swansea Bay can be very rough and our previous GRP buoy broke in two and sank, so the robust construction of the new Tideland buoy was a major factor in replacing it."
Tideland's SB-2200 is designed to perform well in rough seas and to stand upright in strong currents, improving the lantern's range and visibility. Other benefits include the unit's low weight and its construction, which greatly reduces the maintenance required.
Entirely manufactured from rotationally moulded polyethylene with a solid core of expanded polystyrene foam, the SB-2200 is virtually unsinkable as the integral foam core will prevent excessive water ingress in the event of a collision. In addition to offering a planned service life of up to 20 years, low maintenance requirements, reduced weight and exceptional resistance to damage and marine growth, most of the buoy constituents may be fully recycled at the end of life.
The rotational moulding process ensures a seamless body, using a mould which provides increased thickness of polyethylene at major stress points in the structure. Before moulding, the polymer is compounded with UV inhibitors and pigment so that the wall thickness is evenly UV-stabilised and colour is permanent and uniform throughout. As a result, painting is never necessary.
Several options are available including buoys fitted with self contained lights (as at Neath) or with conventional solar panels and batteries which are housed inside the buoy body. The SB-2200 is available in red, green, yellow, white, black, orange and bi-form colours and with a full range of IALA-recommended topmarks rotationally moulded in the same polyethylene material as the hull. Daymark wings may also be supplied for can or conical identification and other options include an access door and ladders.
The SB-2200 is the latest and largest addition to Tideland Signal's range of polyethylene buoys. Introduced in 1987, they are designed to provide a suitable focal plane for the lantern as well as a highly visible cross section without the need for extra daymarks. Like the port side channel markers, the buoy in the Neath Estuary is fitted with a Tideland SolaLED-140 self-contained LED lantern, which can achieve a range in excess of 5NM.
The navigable channel into Neath is regularly dredged and recent improvements have enabled the port to handle vessels 125m long, carrying up to 7,000 tons of cargo. The main commodities traded are steel, scrap, sand, general cargo and gravel but there is also a large yacht marina on the west bank opposite Briton Ferry.
Approved to ISO 9001:2008, Tideland Signal Limited is a British-based member of the Tideland group of companies, which specializes in the design and manufacture of aids to marine navigation. The Tideland group is independently owned and has its headquarters in Houston, Texas.
Issued on behalf of Tideland Signal Limited, Kendal House, Victoria Way, Burgess Hill, Sussex, RH15 9NF, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1444 872240. Fax +44 (0)1444 872241. E-mail:
sales@tidelandsignal.ltd.uk
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