Fender for marine piers

Claim 1

A FENDER FOR A MARINE PIER COMPRISING A FENDER BASE STRUCTURE LOCATED IN THE SEAWARD OF SAID PIER AND SPACED THEREFORM, SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE HAVING A SHIP-ENGAGING SURFACE ORIENTED TO THE SEAWARD AND A REAR FACE ORIENTED TOWARD SAID PIER, SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE BEING SUPPORTED ON A SUBAQUEOUS FOOTING, BUFFER MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PIER AND SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE TOWARD SAID PIER, MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE AND SAID PIER FOR CONTROLLING THE ALIGNMENT OF SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE WITH RESPECT TO SAID PIER, SHIP POSITIONING MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE, AND SHIP POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE SURFACE EXTENDING TO THE SEAWARD OF SAID SHIP-ENGAGING FACE TO SAID FENDER BASE STRUCTURE AND BEING CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING MOTION IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID SHIP-ENGAGING FACE, AND MEANS FOR RETRACTING SAID SHIP POSITIONING MEANS TO A RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH SAID MOVABLE SURFACE IS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SHIP ENGAGING FACE AND SAID PIER.