Performance of Marine Airbags: What Really Matters

Marine airbags, also known as ship launching airbags or marine salvage airbags, are widely used for launching vessels, transporting heavy loads, and refloating stranded ships. But not all airbags perform equally well. For engineers and shipyard managers, understanding the true performance of marine airbags can mean the difference between smooth success and costly setbacks.

Why Should We Care About Marine Airbag Performance?

Let’s be honest — it’s easy to overlook what’s happening under the hull. But marine airbags handle massive forces while sitting directly between a steel ship and hard concrete. A small flaw in performance can lead to severe consequences: cracked hulls, failed launches, or worse — injuries.

Take a real-world case: a mid-sized fishing vessel launched with low-quality airbags suffered a sudden air leak during rollout, halting the entire process. The cause? Poor bonding at the end fittings and insufficient wall strength. That’s why airbag performance isn’t just a technical issue — it’s a safety and cost issue.

✅ Marine airbags deliver high performance by combining strength, flexibility, and safety-focused design.

They can support massive loads, adapt to uneven terrain, and absorb shock during movement. With advanced material engineering and optimized structure, modern airbags offer reliable solutions for complex marine operations.

Key Factors That Define Airbag Performance

1. Excellent Resistance to Compound Compression-Twisting

Marine airbags are squeezed between the hull and the ground during rolling. When rolling speed isn’t uniform, airbags twist while compressed — a movement we call kneading-compression. This complex deformation creates high local stress.
Older airbag designs often fail here: delamination or fiber breakage causes the entire airbag to burst.
Our upgraded airbags use advanced rubber formulations and manufacturing techniques to enhance tear resistance and prevent failure during such stress.

2. Anti-Blowout End Fittings for Higher Safety

As working pressure increases, traditional airbag end structures are more likely to leak or even blow out. Poorly made airbags have caused injuries when the end parts detached under pressure.
We implemented a reinforced anti-blowout design, greatly increasing sealing strength and ensuring long-term airtightness. So far, zero air-leakage events have been reported from our upgraded designs — a vital step in protecting your crew and assets.

3. Optimized Reinforcement Layer Structure

Using a stress modeling system, we analyzed how forces act during compression and rolling.
By adjusting the angle of each reinforcement layer, we achieved a balanced load distribution across the airbag wall, maximizing the efficiency of synthetic tire cord fibers. Both burst tests and real-world launches confirm the success of this design.

4. Superior Aging and Abrasion Resistance

Marine airbags face sunlight, seawater, sand, and oil daily.
Our airbags are made from a premium natural rubber compound with anti-aging agents, showing outstanding resistance to UV, salt corrosion, and mechanical wear. This ensures long service life, even in harsh environments.

5. High Flexibility and Shock Absorption

Using a unique spiral winding technique and long-duration vulcanization, our airbags achieve uniform wall thickness with no seams. The result is a thinner, softer, more elastic body that distributes pressure more evenly and absorbs impact more effectively.
This flexibility is especially helpful when launching on sloped or uneven ground, as it reduces structural stress and minimizes the risk of hull damage.

Still Using Outdated Launching Gear?

Switch to Nanhai marine airbags and experience safer, faster, and more economical marine operations.
Whether you’re launching a new vessel or lifting an old wreck, we offer custom-engineered airbags designed for your exact needs. Contact us now for professional guidance and a free quote.

FAQ

What makes a marine airbag high-performance?

A high-performance marine airbag features multi-layer reinforcement, advanced anti-burst end fittings, and superior materials that resist aging, abrasion, and compression-twist failure.

How long can a marine airbag last?

With proper use, a quality marine airbag can be reused 50–100 times. Longevity depends on rubber quality, internal pressure, and working conditions.

Is it safe to launch a ship using marine airbags?

Yes, if you use certified airbags with reinforced ends and anti-burst structures. Safety also depends on correct layout and operation.

What is the pressure capacity of a marine airbag?

Most airbags work within 0.2 to 0.6 MPa. Some custom models can go higher, but pressure must always match the structure’s design limits.

Are marine airbags suitable for large vessels?

Absolutely. With proper quantity and arrangement, marine airbags for heavy lifting can safely launch vessels weighing thousands of tons.