A method of maintaining a maritime fender assembly mounted to a berthing structure, the maritime fender assembly comprising: a frame for releasably receiving a panel assembly, the panel assembly being substantially flat and having at least one outwardly facing wear pad for contact with a vessel, the frame comprising: a pair of opposing channels into which the panel assembly is slidingly received, the pair of opposing channels being, in use, substantially vertical; and an engagement part having a release configuration whereby the panel assembly is removable from the pair of opposing channels and an engaged configuration whereby the panel assembly is secured in the pair of opposing channels; and a resilient fender element mounted between the frame and the berthing structure, the resilient fender element for absorbing forces on the panel assembly and/or the frame; wherein the method comprises: configuring the engagement part to the release configuration; removing an existing panel assembly from the pair of opposing channels by sliding the existing panel assembly out of the pair of opposing channels; positioning a serviceable panel assembly into the pair of opposing channels; and configuring the engagement part to the engaged configuration to secure the serviceable panel assembly to the frame, wherein the method is performed while the frame and fender element are maintained in situ mounted to the berthing structure. a frame for releasably receiving a panel assembly, the panel assembly being substantially flat and having at least one outwardly facing wear pad for contact with a vessel, the frame comprising: a pair of opposing channels into which the panel assembly is slidingly received, the pair of opposing channels being, in use, substantially vertical; and an engagement part having a release configuration whereby the panel assembly is removable from the pair of opposing channels and an engaged configuration whereby the panel assembly is secured in the pair of opposing channels; and a pair of opposing channels into which the panel assembly is slidingly received, the pair of opposing channels being, in use, substantially vertical; and an engagement part having a release configuration whereby the panel assembly is removable from the pair of opposing channels and an engaged configuration whereby the panel assembly is secured in the pair of opposing channels; and a resilient fender element mounted between the frame and the berthing structure, the resilient fender element for absorbing forces on the panel assembly and/or the frame; wherein the method comprises: configuring the engagement part to the release configuration; removing an existing panel assembly from the pair of opposing channels by sliding the existing panel assembly out of the pair of opposing channels; positioning a serviceable panel assembly into the pair of opposing channels; and configuring the engagement part to the engaged configuration to secure the serviceable panel assembly to the frame, configuring the engagement part to the release configuration; removing an existing panel assembly from the pair of opposing channels by sliding the existing panel assembly out of the pair of opposing channels; positioning a serviceable panel assembly into the pair of opposing channels; and configuring the engagement part to the engaged configuration to secure the serviceable panel assembly to the frame, wherein the method is performed while the frame and fender element are maintained in situ mounted to the berthing structure.