Ship Launching And Landing Airbag - China

Introduction of ship launching and landing airbag

Ship launching and landing airbags are specialized air bags that are used for launching marine vessels.

This method of launching ships is called airbag launching.

These air bags are made of synthetic-tire-cord reinforcement layers and rubber layers, and are also known as marine airbags.

They were invented in 1980 - The first known use of marine airbags occurred on January 20, 1981 with the launch of a tank barge from the Xiao Qinghe shipyard.

From then on, more and more shipyards, especially in China and Southeast Asia, began to use air bags to launch small and medium-sized vessels.

In recent years, higher strength materials have been used in air bag production, allowing them to have much more bearing capacity.

Hence, they have begun to be used at the launching of larger vessels.

In October 2011, the successful launch of one vessel with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 75000 tonnes set a world record for ship launches utilizing air bags.

The following year, on June 6, 2012, the ship "He Ming", with a DWT of 73541 tonnes, total length of 224.8m, breadth of 34m, and depth of 18.5m, also launched successfully using air bags.

Structure of ship launching and landing airbag

1 - Airbag body: the main, cylindrical part of the air bag after being fully inflated with compressed air, 2 - Airbag heads: conical parts connecting the body and the mouths of the air bag, and 3 - Airbag mouths: either metal valves mounted on both ends of the air bag for inflating with air or a valve on one end and a metal lug on the other end used to haul the air bag.

Ship launching and landing airbag use notice

1 - Strictly control pneumatic pressure, in any case do not exceed the upper limit value of working pressure that published in the instruction of products leaving factory.

2 - The surface of airbag can't contact sharp substances to avoid puncturing.

3 - During rolling course it should be avoided as possible to produce distortion along the length direction.

4 - During short distances transportation the airbag should be moved by rolling at pneumatic condition or by lifting at natural condition and dragging on ground is forbidden.

5 - During long distances transportation the airbag should be packed by folding and strapping and fastened, moreover, ought to plus woven bags in the case of air transportation.

6 - In case of airbags lay up for long time, if more than half a year; the pressure test at free condition must be conducted before resurrection.

Test pressure should be 1.1 times of rated working pressure.

During the test, the inspector should be away from the airbag 3 meters or over.

If the airbag was repaired after damage, the working pressure must be decreased to guarantee safety.

Company Contact:

• Posted By: Qingdao Florescence Rubber Products Co.,Ltd

• Phone: +86 18205321973

• Address: Moscow Road, Qingdao , Shandong Province, China

• Email:

• Website: https://www.fendercore.com

• Business Description: Engaged in manufacturing marine airbag, pneumatic fender, foam fender and other rubber fenders since 1992.