The act of rigging and positioning shock-absorbing devices along the hull of a ship or boat before coming alongside a pier, quay, or another vessel. Fendering protects the shell plating from scraping or structural damage caused by the momentum of the vessel against a hard surface. The crew must adjust the height of the fenders based on the tide and the profile of the dock.
Heard on the job
Make sure you fender the starboard side heavily before we raft up against that steel barge.
Also heard as
- fender off