Single Bitt Bollard for Marine Hardware Dock Mooring & Ship Anchoring

Material and Manufacturing:

1. Core Materials
Material selection requires a balance between strength, corrosion resistance, and the application scenario (freshwater/seawater, or dock environments). Mainstream materials fall into the following four categories:
Carbon Steel
Common grades include Q235, Q345 (Chinese standards) or A36, A572 (American standards). They are low-cost and meet the strength requirements of typical docks.
The disadvantage is that they are susceptible to rust and require surface anti-corrosion treatment (such as hot-dip galvanizing or epoxy paint). They are suitable for freshwater docks or areas with high maintenance.
Stainless Steel
Mainstream grades are 316L or 304. These contain chromium and nickel, offering excellent resistance to seawater corrosion and requiring less frequent maintenance.
They are suitable for use in seawater docks, areas with high humidity, or chemical pollution. However, they are more expensive than carbon steel and are typically used in mid- to high-end applications or in high-risk environments. High-strength alloy steels, such as NM450 and S690QL, boast tensile strengths exceeding 690 MPa and can withstand the mooring pull of ultra-large vessels (such as container ships and tankers).
They require specialized heat treatment (quenching and tempering) to enhance toughness and are primarily used in deep-water ports or heavy-duty docks.
Composite materials, primarily made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) or carbon fiber, offer lightweight, excellent corrosion resistance, and no risk of electrochemical corrosion.
They are suitable for lightweighting applications (such as floating docks), but their high cost and poor impact resistance have limited their current application scope.

Manufacturing must comply with international standards (such as ISO 3914 and GB/T 25010). The core process consists of five steps:
Raw Material Pretreatment
Carbon steel/stainless steel plates/forgings must first undergo UT/MT testing to eliminate internal cracks, slag inclusions, and other defects.
Blanks are cut according to the design drawings. Forgings are forged and shaped (to increase material density), while castings are formed using sand casting.
Precision Machining
The column and top mooring slot are machined using CNC lathes and milling machines to ensure dimensional accuracy (tolerance ≤ ±0.5mm).
For combined structures (column + base), connection holes are machined to ensure a tight fit with the base (flatness ≤0.1mm/m). Welding and Flaw Detection (for composite structures)
Use MIG/MAG welding to weld the column and base. The weld must be full and at least as thick as the material thickness.
After welding, perform 100% non-destructive testing (UT) to ensure there are no defects such as lack of fusion and porosity, and that the weld strength is no less than that of the parent material.
Surface Anti-corrosion Treatment
Carbon steel: First, sandblast to remove rust (to Sa2.5), then apply 2-3 coats of epoxy zinc-rich primer and polyurethane topcoat, or hot-dip galvanizing (zinc layer thickness ≥ 85μm).
Stainless steel: Polish the surface (Ra ≤ 0.8μm) or passivate it to enhance fingerprint resistance and weather resistance.
Composite materials: Apply a UV-resistant resin coating to prevent aging from long-term exposure. Finished Product Quality Inspection
Appearance: No deformation, scratches, or coating peeling; dimensions conform to design drawings;
Strength: Passed static load test (1.2 times the rated tensile force, maintained for 10 minutes, no permanent deformation);
Corrosion Resistance: Salt spray test (no rust after 480 hours in neutral salt spray, on carbon steel).

Features:

Single Bitt Bollards are critical marine hardware for secure mooring and anchoring, with features tailored to durability, functionality, and adaptability in harsh marine environments. Here are their key features:
1. High Load-Bearing Capacity
Designed to withstand extreme tensile forces from mooring ropes/cables, with load ratings typically ranging from 50 kN to 500+ kN (depending on size and material). High-strength alloy steel models can handle super-large vessels (e.g., container ships, oil tankers) with dynamic loads from tides, wind, or currents.
2. Compact & Space-Efficient Design
The single-post structure (vs. double bitts) minimizes footprint, making it ideal for narrow docks, piers, or areas with limited space. The cylindrical or conical column shape reduces interference with vessel movement while providing a stable anchor point.
3. Optimized Rope Interaction
Top Mooring Groove: A smooth, rounded groove (or "bitt head") at the top prevents rope/cable abrasion, reducing wear on mooring lines and extending their lifespan.
Chamfered Edges: All corners are rounded to avoid cutting or fraying ropes, enhancing operational safety.
4. Corrosion Resistance
Material-specific protection: Stainless steel (316L) or FRP models offer inherent resistance to saltwater, humidity, and chemical exposure.
Coated carbon steel variants (hot-dip galvanized or epoxy-painted) provide long-term protection in freshwater or low-corrosion zones, with minimal maintenance.
5. Durable & Low-Maintenance
Constructed from robust materials (forged/cast steel, high-grade alloys) to resist deformation, impact, and fatigue over decades of use.
Minimal upkeep: Stainless steel requires only occasional cleaning; coated steel may need repainting every 5–10 years (depending on environment).
6. Versatile Installation
Compatible with various dock foundations:
Bolted to concrete pedestals (via pre-drilled base plates).
Welded to steel structures (e.g., offshore platforms).
Adaptable to fixed or floating docks, with designs accounting for minor vertical movement (e.g., tide changes).
7. Compliance with International Standards
Manufactured to meet industry norms such as:
ISO 3914 (Mooring fittings for ships and marine structures).
GB/T 25010 (Chinese standard for marine bollards).
ABS, DNV, or Lloyd’s Register certifications for use in classified ports.
8. Customizable for Specific Needs
Height, diameter, and load rating can be tailored to vessel size (small boats to mega-ships).
Optional features: Integrated cable guides, anti-theft bolts, or reflective markers for low-light visibility.
These features ensure single bitt bollards deliver reliable, safe, and long-lasting performance in diverse marine mooring scenarios.
 
 

Technical Parameters:

Application Scenarios:

1. Small and Medium-Sized Terminals and Berths
Applications: Fishing piers, yacht marinas, small cargo terminals, inland river berths, etc.
Key Reason: The single-bollard structure occupies a small footprint, making it suitable for small terminals with limited space. Its load capacity (typically 50–200 kN) meets the mooring needs of small vessels (such as fishing boats, yachts, and inland river cargo ships), and it is easy to operate (the single-bollard design facilitates rope winding and securing).
2. Medium-Sized Cargo and Passenger Terminals
Applications: Small and medium-sized coastal container terminals, roll-on/roll-off (RORO) terminals, ferry terminals, and temporary berths within harbor basins.
Key Reason: For the mooring tension of vessels under 5,000 tonnes (such as feeder container ships and ro-ro passenger ferries), medium-strength single-bollard bollards (150–300 kN) can stably withstand the dynamic loads caused by tides and wind. Furthermore, the single-bollard design reduces the occupied dock operating space, without affecting vehicle or cargo loading and unloading. 3. Special Environment Docks (Freshwater/Saltwater)
Freshwater Applications: Inland ports and lake docks (such as those along the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers). Carbon steel (with anti-corrosion treatment) is often used, offering low cost and the ability to withstand the low-corrosion environment of freshwater.
Saltwater Applications: Small and medium-sized coastal ports and island docks require 316L stainless steel or high-strength alloys (resistant to salt spray corrosion) suitable for mooring small vessels (such as offshore supply vessels and fishery administration vessels).
4. Floating Docks and Water Platforms
Applicable Applications: Floating docks (such as scenic area docks and temporary operation platforms), pontoons, floating restaurants, and other floating structures.
Core Reason: Single-post bollards are lightweight (especially composite or lightweight steel models), can be bolted to the floating platform, and are designed to allow for slight vertical movement (to accommodate platform sway caused by tides and waves), preventing excessive tension on the mooring lines. 5. Offshore and Special Operation Areas
Applicable Scenarios: Auxiliary berths for offshore oil platforms, offshore wind turbine operation and maintenance docks, auxiliary berths for military ports, etc.
Core Reason: Single-post bollards made of high-strength alloy (300–500+ kN) can withstand the high-frequency mooring pulls of work vessels (such as supply vessels and operation and maintenance vessels), and are highly impact-resistant, making them suitable for complex offshore sea conditions (such as short-term strong winds and swells).
6. Temporary or Emergency Mooring Points
Applicable Scenarios: Emergency anchorage areas in rivers, temporary waiting areas in ports, and temporary anchoring points for shipwreck salvage operations.
Core Reason: Easy installation (can be quickly bolted to a precast concrete base), and the single-post structure facilitates temporary rope winding, meeting short-term, high-frequency temporary mooring needs.
In summary, the core application of single-post bollards is in "limited space + medium to low load" scenarios. From inland rivers to coastal areas, from small civilian applications to specialized industrial applications, reliable mooring can be achieved through the adaptation of materials and specifications.

Support and Services:

1. Full-Process Technical Support
Preliminary Design
Provide professional selection guidance, recommending suitable single-post bollard models (e.g., 50-500+ kN load rating) and materials (e.g., 316L stainless steel, cast steel, FRP, etc.) based on parameters such as terminal class, vessel type, and hydrological conditions (e.g., tides and waves).
Assist in anchoring system design, including anchor specifications, concrete filling scheme, and anti-corrosion coating system (e.g., three-layer epoxy zinc-rich coating, total thickness ≥ 280 μm, design life 15 years).
Provide 3D modeling and simulation analysis to verify the bollard's stability under dynamic loads, such as evaluating the impact of tidal fluctuations on the anchoring structure through finite element analysis.
Installation and Construction Support
Provide standardized installation manuals and construction plans, covering key steps such as foundation preparation, anchor calibration, torque control (applied to 110% of the design value in three steps), and concrete pouring. On-site Technical Guidance: Engineers are dispatched to assist with lifting and positioning (e.g., ensuring verticality deviation ≤ 1° using a four-point hanger), bolt tightening (recording each point with a torque wrench), and anti-corrosion repair (adding 50mm to the damaged area).

Specialized tools and equipment are provided, such as ultrasonic flaw detectors to detect internal defects and torque wrenches to ensure bolt preload meets standards.

II. Quality Assurance and Certification Services

Strict Quality Testing

Raw Material Inspection: Steel undergoes tensile strength (≥800MPa) and impact toughness (≥20J/cm²) testing, while cast iron undergoes hardness (HB180-220) and metallographic analysis.

Manufacturing Process Control: Utilizing processes such as die casting and CNC machining, we ensure dimensional accuracy (e.g., column verticality deviation ≤ H/1000) and surface quality (sandblasting and rust removal to Sa2.5). Finished Product Testing: Corrosion resistance is verified through a destructive test at 125% of the rated load (no plastic deformation after 30 minutes of load holding) and a salt spray test (no corrosion after ≥1000 hours in a neutral environment).

International Certification Support

We provide certifications such as ISO 13795, GB/T 25010, ABS, DNV, and Lloyd's Register to ensure compliance with international port access standards.

We support customers in completing on-site classification society inspections, including welding procedure qualifications and non-destructive testing (such as magnetic particle inspection) according to DNV specifications.

 
 
In addition, we offer a range of services to complement our mooring bollards products. These include custom design and engineering, installation and commissioning, and repairs and upgrades. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive solution to meet your mooring needs, from product selection to ongoing support.
Any question please let us know ,our JinCheng maritime will provide you the best service with 7*24 hours ~