Why are timber fenders installed along sheet-piled quay walls?

Timber fenders are installed along sheet-piled quay walls primarily to protect the steel piles from the impact of ships during the berthing process. By acting as a buffer, these fenders help prevent damage to the quay structure.12

Engineers typically utilize vertical timbers at intervals for this purpose. While horizontal walings (wooden ridges) can also be used, they are often avoided at smaller wharves because they can become entangled with a ship's own protective beltings during a rising tide, which may lead to structural damage or other operational hazards.1