| Pneumatic fenders are essential for preventing | | | | adapted from their Air Watch setup for automotive |
| damage between ships, or between ships and | | | | tires). Dubbed the Fender Watch system, it entails a |
| wharves. Yokohama has been a leader in the field for | | | | sensor on a metal fitting, set inside a Yokohama |
| so long that the term "Yokohama Fender" has | | | | fender. Via a wireless signal, the sensor sends inflation |
| become synonymous with pneumatic fenders in | | | | data to the handheld terminals of maintenance |
| general. The company currently dominates the field | | | | personnel. With this system, maintenance can get |
| with a full 80% of all the pneumatic fenders being | | | | accurate readings on the fender's inflation at |
| manufactured today. | | | | distances up to 30 meters. This remote pressure |
| Though pneumatic fenders are sturdy and adaptable | | | | sensing can also help monitor and regulate the |
| to many situations and circumstances, they are not | | | | distance between two vessels during ship-to-ship |
| indestructible and do require periodic maintenance. In | | | | transfers of crude oil or liquefied petroleum gas. |
| the past, this typically involved lifting them completely | | | | Since pneumatic fenders are typically used in |
| out of the water for inspection and a check of their | | | | batteries of four or more, Yokohama's Fender Watch |
| inflation pressure. Obviously, this cuts into the | | | | system can take readings from up to four fenders |
| efficiency of an entire wharf or dock operation when | | | | simultaneously. The sensors are also equipped to |
| pneumatic fenders are taken out of commission | | | | send alarm signals should the inflation pressure move |
| completely for maintenance. | | | | significantly above or below the desired settings set |
| Yokohama recently announced a system that can | | | | by the users. |
| monitor air pressure by remote sensing (a system | | | | |