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Compeng developed (FRP / GRP) composite structural marina floating docks for BFG group.  FRP / GRP is a modern material that is as strong as steel even stronger that steel with Carbon fibres, weighs 1/4th of steel, does not corrode and lasts for decades in harsh environment. It is the material that all the modern yachts are made of.  A typical marina dock has two main components.  A structural deck frame and the floats. The deck frame handles all the loads coming on the yacht berthing dock. For example, the yachts hitting when docking, water waves impacting the dock, and high-profile yachts facing the wind, push or pull the dock against the anchoring piles of the dock. The float is a tub like box attached under the deck frame, that keeps the dock afloat. Traditionally the deck frames are made of wood, concrete, or Aluminum. Float tubs are made of concrete or polyethylene. All these traditionally used materials are badly affected by water, more so with sea water, where the docks are deployed.

To have marina docks that are not negatively or seriously impacted by water damage, we developed an innovative material and method for construction of the important structural deck. We engineered a monolithic, corrosion free, one component moulded FRP / GRP structural deck. The monolithic deck replaced the traditional assembly of several metal or wooden members or concrete blocks that made the deck frame. The welded or bolted joints in metal or wooden deck frames need heavy maintenance to protect them from water and corrosion. Similarly, concrete block decks are prone to cracking due to cooling and heating during the winters and summers. The cracks expose the steel in the concrete to water resulting in rusting of steel and failure of the deck. While our innovative method of monolithic structural deck handled all the loads on the deck, it also eliminated several accessories fitted to the traditional deck frames. The docks need to service the berthed yacht with supply of water and electric power. The water pipes and electrical lines are traditionally run through conduits on the sides of docks, which are often damaged by berthing impact of the yachts. We designed the moulded deck as a panel with provision to accommodate the service lines on the top face of the deck but concealed under the deck planks. The moulded deck panel has no open gaps, unlike in an assembled frame with metal or wood cross members. Hence the water does not splash through the deck frame on the upper face of the deck. The impervious moulded deck protects the cables and pipes from water splashes and yacht impact damage. This was very disruptive way of looking at the marine dock constructions from a completely new perspective of a multifunctional monolithic moulded structural composite deck panel replacing assembly of few hundred components with traditional materials.

We thoroughly and systematically ran test program on the new system to validate the innovation. The scientifically proven innovation gave confidence to the marina operators and owners to deploy the new system, with assured safety. We oversaw his innovation deployed in a large commercial project at Manila Yacht club, prestigious facility in Manila, Philippines. The docks are still in service performing successfully, withstanding yearly hurricanes of over 180 mph winds since 1999. The testimony to our innovation in the Marina market is that FRP / GRP composite marina docks were further deployed in harsh environment locations marinas in Hongkong, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

One of our earliest projects was in Manila, in the Philippines. This region is prone to extreme high wind typhoons / hurricanes reaching upto 300 kmph ( 195 mph). The FRP / GRP docks were installed around 1997. The inherent impact resistance of FRP / GRP was able to sustain several such winds over last 25 years. Any other assembled metal frame or concrete would never survive such strong wind impacts where the docks go up in the air and thump back onto the water under such sever wind conditions. The inspector records on year 2000 shows the observation as follows

FRP / GRP Is Worlds Most Accepted Material for Marine Environment

• FRP / GRP is a high performance, Very high Impact Resistant, technologically advanced structural material.
• Integration : One-piece construction without dependency on any assembly joints.
• Combination of resins for Corrosion Free performance and very high mechanical properties.
• FRP / GRP is a highly electrically insulating material.
• FRP / GRP Structures perform exactly same as any premium quality FRP / GRP Yacht.