By Ann R. Thryft – Australian companies Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT) and Riverside Marine have joined forces to create a floating, all-composite ferry pontoon that they say will be the first of its kind.
Because metallic structures in the harsh marine environment require ongoing maintenance due to corrosion and degradation, Riverside Marine’s aim was to develop a solution using composite materials that would require zero maintenance, Gareth Williams, research and development engineer, has reportedly said. The company determined that using Wagners CFT’s materials would both reduce maintenance and double the existing design life of a similar structure made of metallic or concrete-based materials. more> http://tinyurl.com/74nl7q6
