Ship Launching Process by Marine Airbags

Preparation works before launching

1. According to the calculation, prepare enough marine airbags, towing winches, air compressors and other instruments needed. Before the launching operation, marine airbags should be inflated with 1.25 times pressure of working pressure to test its safety and airtightness. If there is any problem, marine airbags should be fixed before use.

2. Clear all the obstacles and sharp iron nail from launch ramp. Check vessel’s bottom to ensure no welding scars which may puncture ship launching marine airbags.

3. Fasten towing winch with ship.

4. Close all vessel’s valves, fix the helm and screw propeller.

Vessels’ and Barges’ Lifting

1. Insert marine airbags between support blocks and inflate them to lift vessel. When vessel is lifted, people can take out support blocks under the ship.

2. For the light weight vessel, it will be lifted by marine airbags step by step. First, people need to find the best point for marine airbags’ lifting. The best position means where marine airbags can get big contact area with vessel bottom and also far way from vessel’s gravity center. People may refer to the right drawing to find lifting condition need to be satisfied. When the first batch of marine airbags lift part of vessel away from support blocks people can take out some blocks in front of marine airbags. Then insert more marine airbags to lift vessel, step by step the vessel can be lifted fully by marine airbags. At that time, people can remove all supporting blocks under vessel.

3. The calculation of marine airbags lifting is very important. When people use marine airbags to lift bow first the blocks under stern will bear increasing press. According to calculation if there is possible damage to launch ramp people may increase blocks quantity under stern.

Vessels’ or Barges’ Launching

1. Under some conditions the vessel need to be shifted to near water before launching. But it is not necessary for all launch projects.

2. Adjusted the inner pressure of marine airbags to low down the vessel or barge. Generally, the bottom of vessel can be 0.5~0.8 m above the ground.

3. All the marine airbags should be centered the vessel and upright to the launching direction.

4. Start the towing winch to release the ship slowly. When the first airbag rolls out of the tow, move it to the stern and place it at the planned position.

5. Repeat the former process and move ship to the right position.

6. Clean the launching area. When the water depth is enough for launch, people may cut off or release the wire ropes to launch the ship. If the launching water area is limited, people may use towing winch to release ship slowly into the water.

7. Reclaim all marine airbags after launch.