Coast Guard Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

A fender serves a crucial role in protecting a vessel during mooring or docking operations. Specifically, it absorbs shock and dampens the impact forces that occur when a vessel comes into contact with a dock, another vessel, or any solid structure. This cushioning effect helps prevent damage to both the vessel itself and the structure it is coming into contact with.

Fenders are typically made from materials such as rubber, foam, or other resilient substances that can compress upon impact, thereby minimizing the transfer of kinetic energy that could otherwise lead to dents, scrapes, and structural harm. The primary function of a fender is, therefore, to act as a buffer, allowing for safer operations in environments where contact is inevitable.

While enhancing speed, maintaining buoyancy, and assisting with navigation are factors relevant to vessel operation, they do not pertain to the primary purpose of fenders. Fenders are specifically designed to mitigate damaging forces rather than influence performance or navigational aspects.