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Views: 222 Author: Loretta Publish Time: 2025-09-24 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● Introduction to Joining Shackles in Maritime Industry
● Leading Joining Shackle Manufacturers in Portugal
>> MARIT
>> Local Portuguese Manufacturers
● Manufacturing Process of Joining Shackles
● OEM Services for Joining Shackles
● Applications of Joining Shackles
● Innovations and Quality Assurance
● Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
>> 1. What are the main types of joining shackles produced in Portugal?
>> 2. How do manufacturers ensure joining shackles meet quality standards?
>> 3. Can joining shackles be customized for specific marine applications?
>> 4. In which industries are Portuguese joining shackles used?
>> 5. What maintenance practices extend joining shackle lifespan?
Joining shackles are critical components widely used in maritime and offshore industries to connect chain lengths and other rigging hardware securely and safely. They are essential links between anchor chains and mooring systems, ensuring vessel stability and operational safety in demanding marine conditions. Portugal, with its rich maritime legacy and robust shipbuilding sector, hosts several reputable joining shackle manufacturers and suppliers known for their quality, reliability, and OEM customization capabilities. This article discusses the top joining shackle manufacturers and suppliers in Portugal, highlighting their products, manufacturing excellence, certifications, and application diversity.
Joining shackles, also known as detachable links or Kenter shackles, are forged steel connectors designed to join two chain ends or rigging elements of similar or varying types. These shackles feature a two-piece assembly (in the case of Kenter shackles) or a solid body with a removable pin (e.g., D-type shackles) that guarantees secure and load-bearing connections. Their design allows easy installation, inspection, and maintenance while ensuring high structural integrity under heavy marine loads.
Portugal's maritime equipment market includes several established businesses specializing in marine hardware, including joining shackles. These companies manufacture products according to international standards like IACS, DNV, ABS, and ISO to ensure high performance and safety.
Fossen Shipping, established in 1951, is a prominent supplier of anchor chains and joining shackles, distributing extensively in Portugal and Europe. They produce joining shackles with advanced forging, heat treatment, and machining processes that maximize tensile strength and toughness. Their OEM services are tailored for shipyards and offshore operators, offering certification from major maritime classification societies. Their products include studlink chains, studless chains, and various shackles with coatings for saltwater resistance.
MARIT, a French company with strong ties to the Portuguese marine market, manufactures a broad spectrum of marine chains and accessories. They provide joining shackles in different grades and protective finishes such as hot-dip galvanizing and epoxy coatings designed to meet corrosive marine environments. Their OEM capabilities extend to customized sizes, steel grades, and specialized coatings, making them favored partners for offshore projects and port infrastructure.
Portugal also benefits from locally rooted manufacturers blending traditional craftsmanship with modern industrial production. These businesses focus on automation, precision quality control, and efficient logistics to provide customized OEM joining shackle solutions that comply with international maritime regulations and meet customer-specific requirements.
Producing high-quality joining shackles involves stringent controls and carefully executed stages:
- Forging: Raw alloy steel or carbon steel is heated then forged into the shackle's shape. This method preserves the metal's grain flow, enhancing strength and fatigue resistance.
- Heat Treatment: Shackles undergo quenching and tempering cycles to achieve mechanical properties such as high tensile strength (up to Grade 4 quality) and toughness.
- Machining: Precision CNC machining creates exact dimensions for the center chock and taper pin holes, allowing perfect fit and load alignment. Unlike punching, CNC machining eliminates structural weaknesses near pin holes.
- Surface Treatment: Products receive corrosion resistant coatings like hot galvanization, epoxy paint, or stainless steel finishes.
- Testing and Certification: Each shackle batch is subjected to nondestructive testing (ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspections) to detect cracks or defects. Load testing to proof load and breaking load standards ensures compliance with IACS W22, DNV, ABS, and ISO 17025.
Modern manufacturers also employ Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in design and side load simulations to ensure endurance under complex loading scenarios without failure over typical service life.
- Kenter Joining Shackles: These consist of two forged halves connected by a center chock and secured by a taper pin. Used extensively for joining anchor chains in commercial and offshore vessels, they allow secure, field-serviceable connections.
- D-Type Joining Shackles: Featuring a D-shaped body and a tapered pin with large bearings for smooth linkage operations, these shackles prevent twisting and are widely used for both chain joining and anchor attachments.
- Swivel Joining Shackles: These specialized shackles allow chain rotation to reduce twist and wear, often used alongside other joining shackles in dynamic marine mooring systems.
Many leading Portuguese joining shackle manufacturers provide comprehensive OEM manufacturing services:
- Custom diameters and grades of steel based on shipping company or offshore client's specifications.
- Special anti-corrosion coatings designed for extreme marine or offshore environments, including environmentally friendly paints.
- Design modifications for specific vessel types, offshore platforms, or port infrastructures.
- Support services for assembly, installation, and maintenance, ensuring quick turnaround and quality assurance for OEM brand owners and wholesalers.
Joining shackles perform essential functions in a range of marine and offshore applications:
- Anchor Chain Connections: They link separate chain sections to form long anchor chains suitable for deep-water anchoring.
- Offshore Mooring Systems: Used extensively in oil rigs, floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs), and buoy mooring.
- Port and Harbor Installations: Joining shackles attach chains to fenders, mooring dolphins, and docking equipment.
- Recreational and Fishing Vessels: Smaller size joining shackles are preferred for ease of rigging and chain replacement.
- Industrial Rigging: They serve in heavy lifting setups found on ships and docks, requiring robust load-bearing connections.
Portuguese manufacturers are advancing joining shackle technology with new features:
- Smart Shackles: Integration of sensors that monitor load, strain, and environmental conditions, transmitting data for preventive maintenance.
- Advanced Coatings: Use of eco-friendly, high-durability coatings to resist biofouling, salt spray, and UV degradation.
- Sustainability: Emphasis on recycled steel use and low-energy forging processes to minimize environmental impact.
- Certifications: Strict adherence to international classification society standards guarantees safety and quality for customers worldwide.
Portugal stands out as a significant hub for top joining shackle manufacturers and suppliers whose products support the marine, offshore, and industrial sectors worldwide. These manufacturers combine heritage craftsmanship and modern innovation to produce high-performance, certified joining shackles tailored to OEM customer needs. Their dedication to stringent manufacturing protocols, quality assurance, and aftermarket support makes Portugal a trusted source for durable and reliable joining shackles designed to meet the evolving challenges of the maritime industry.
Portuguese manufacturers commonly produce Kenter joining shackles, D-type joining shackles, and swivel shackles, all forged from durable steel grades and coated to resist corrosion.
Manufacturers apply rigorous forging, heat treatment, CNC machining, and nondestructive testing methods, complying with certifications from IACS, DNV, ABS, ISO, and other societies.
Yes, Portuguese suppliers offer OEM services customizing sizes, steel grades, coatings, and design features according to vessel type, offshore requirements, or client specifications.
They are used in commercial shipping, offshore oil and gas mooring, port infrastructure, recreational boating, and fishing, among other marine-related sectors.
Regular inspections for fatigue, corrosion, and wear, proper cleaning, lubrication, and adherence to manufacturer guidelines ensure long service life for joining shackles.
[1](http://www.lhrmarine.com/media/downloads/d-type-joining-shackle-data-sheet.pdf)
[2](https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/pdf/rules/amendments/e-Amendments/09.04.15/430_PartL_E.pdf)
[3](https://www.maritime-equipments.nl/mod/Projects01/_Files/Mooring_Chain_Guide_e-Feb14.pdf)
[4](https://bidplus.gem.gov.in/bidding/bid/documentdownload/7093441/1730531976.pdf)
[5](https://www.williamhackett.co.uk/files/1742910111_540846aecf0abd3108d7.pdf)
[6](https://www.nauticexpo.com/boat-manufacturer/joining-shackle-ships-37067.html)
[7](https://www.bilbaochain.com/Cadenas/Grilletes/Joining-D.html)
[8](https://www.damenmc.com/kenter-type-joining-shackle/)
[9](https://www.sotra.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Catalogue-8.pdf)
[10](https://www.anker.de/application/files/2917/2310/2568/ASDO_Brochure_LTM_Offshore__Shackles_lowre.pdf)
