Ship launching airbags are known as roller bags, launching air balloons, inflatable marine airbags, air lift bags, and salvage bags. Ship launching airbags are specialized marine rubber air bags that are used for launching marine vessels. ship landing or haul-outs. Marine rubber airbags are also widely used in loading, floating, lifting and moving sunken ships, and salvaging stranded boats. Rubber airbags are made of heavy-duty synthetic-tire-cord layers with inner and out rubber layers in a long cylindrical balloon shape.

Ship launching or upgrading using marine airbags is an innovative ship-launching technology. It overcomes the disadvantage of “end-on launching”, “side ship launching”, and “float-out”. This ship-launching technology overcomes the restrictions of the fixed launching track of side-launch.

This flexible ship launching technology is accepted by more shipyards worldwide because of its advantages of saving time, investment, flexibility, and safety. We are constantly innovating in terms of design, material usage, & manufacturing technologies throughout the years to ensure flexibility, safety, and reliability.

Up to now, more cargo vessels, barges, chemical tankers, tugboats, AHTS vessels, floating docks, and even construction caissons have all been launched using our ship-launching rubber airbags. The biggest vessel launched by ship launching airbags up to 100,000DWT.

All Doowin Marine ship launching airbags are manufactured and tested fully compliant with ISO 14409:2011 Ships and marine technology — Ship launching airbags. To learn more technology, please kindly refer ISO 17682:2013 Ships and marine technology — Methodology for ship launching utilizing air bags

Ship Launching Airbags Material
Our engineering team constantly improves the rubber airbags are constructed of an out rubber layer, multi-layer synthetic-tire-cord layers, and inner rubber layer vulcanized firmly. More layers are applied at the end shoulders.

Synthetic-tire-cord layer

Synthetic-tire-cord layer is reinforcement layer of the ship launching airbags which are made of rubber coated synthetic-tire-cord fabrics. Many synthetic-tire cord layers are twined at ideal angles by unique and patented "Holistic Wrapping Technology". To hold the internal pressure and to distribute the stress evenly. We use the 1400 dtex/2 or 1400 dtex/3 type synthetic-tire-cord fabric. The warp is over 95 cords per 100 mm in width. The breaking strength is more than 310 N per cords.

Synthetic-tire-cord-layer 1400 dtex/3 ---------- Synthetic-tire-cord-layer 1400dtex/2

Breaking Strength of Our Nylon Cord VS ISO 14409

ISO 14409 - 205 N/ per cord

1400 dtex/2 - 215 N/ per cord

1400 dtex/3 - 313 N/ per cord

Inner and Outer Rubber

Prior to the air bag production, the outer and inner rubber layers shall be tested to meet the criteria in accordance with the test methods given in the International Standards listed below. The outer rubber layer covers the outside of ship launching airbags. To protects the cord layers from abrasion and other external forces. This compound has sufficient tensile and tear strength to withstand any weather condition and hard usage.

Ship Launching Airbags Rubber Material Performance

Ship Launching Airbags Performance

Rubber Airbags End Fittings

1. The end of airbag body 2. End flange (Q235 H.D.G)
3. Sealing Washer 4. Three-direction connector at the inflate end (Q235 H.D.G)
5. 3/4′ Ball Valves at the inflate end (Brass) 6. Hose connection at the inflate end (Q235)
7. High-quality Pressure Gauge 8. End plug at the tightness end (Q235 H.D.G)