Breasting dolphin

A breasting dolphin is an isolated marine structure that absorbs the lateral berthing impact of a ship and holds it off the loading platform. It carries the fenders and takes the kinetic berthing energy, transmitting the reaction to a pile cluster or a flexible monopile that deflects under load. On an open jetty or LNG terminal the breasting dolphins sit at the parallel mid-body of the design vessel, spaced at roughly 0.25 to 0.4 of vessel length, with mooring dolphins set further out. Design follows BS 6349-2 and PIANC fender and berthing guidance, sizing the fender to the berthing energy and the dolphin to the residual force.