Smarter, Stronger Ship Launching Airbags by NANHAI

NANHAI ES-Type Dual-End Inflatable Ship Launching Airbags

1. Introduction

Background and Needs

In shipbuilding, launching a vessel into the water is a critical step. Traditional sliding or crane methods are costly and less flexible. They also carry safety risks and require large equipment. Many shipyards now look for better, safer, and more efficient solutions.

NANHAI designed the ES-type ship launching airbags to solve these problems. They help launch ships faster and more safely. These airbags meet and go beyond the ISO 14409 international standard.

Acerca de NANHAI

NANHAI focuses on creating smart and reliable marine products. We aim to make ship launching easier, safer, and more efficient for shipyards around the world.

2. Design and Structure

2.1 How the ES-Type Airbag Works

The ES-type airbag has a special design. It allows air inflation, pressure checking, and pulling operations from both ends. This makes the setup faster and improves control during launching.

Key parts include:

• Dual-end air valves for inflation and deflation.
• Pressure sensors that check air pressure in real time.
• Strong pulling points on both ends for safe towing.

The dual-end design helps balance the air pressure and reduces the risk of failure. It also makes the airbag more stable during use.

2.2 Pressure Monitoring and Control

We added high-accuracy pressure sensors to both ends of the airbag. These sensors give real-time pressure data. This helps operators keep the pressure safe and steady. The system prevents over-inflation or pressure loss, even under heavy load.

2.3 Pulling System

Each end of the airbag includes a strong metal eye or hook. These parts connect to towing ropes or winches. They can handle large pulling forces safely. This makes the airbag easy to move and position during ship launching.

3. Key Advantages

3.1 Higher Working Efficiency

The dual-end design reduces inflation time and improves pressure control. It can save up to 30–50% of setup time compared to single-end airbags. Workers can operate the airbags more easily and safely.

3.2 Beyond ISO 14409 Standards

Our ship launching airbags meet and exceed the ISO 14409 standard in many ways. For example:

• Better air tightness with less than 3% pressure loss per hour.
• Higher burst pressure with a 1.5x safety factor.
• Stronger bounce-back performance during compression and release.

We use high-quality rubber layers, strong nylon cords, and advanced welding techniques to ensure long service life and high performance.

3.3 Flexible Use in Many Conditions

The ES-type airbags work well for many ship types and sizes. You can place them in straight lines, staggered layouts, or in double rows. They are also useful for ship launching, ship landing, marine salvage, and heavy lifting.

4. Testing and Performance

4.1 Test Setup

NANHAI built a full test system for the ES-type ship launching airbags. We also worked with trusted third-party organizations like CCS and DNV to make sure the airbags meet high-quality standards.

We tested the airbags in different ways:

• Compression tests to simulate real working conditions.
• Static pressure tests to check if the airbag can hold pressure for a long time.
• Air tightness tests to make sure there are no leaks.
• Durability tests with repeated use (over 10,000 times).

These tests prove that our ship launching airbags are safe, strong, and reliable under heavy work conditions.

5. Real Use Case

5.1 Launching a 45,000 DWT Ship

A medium-sized shipyard used our ES-type airbags to launch a 45,000 DWT cargo ship. The team reported:

• 35% faster launching time
• 2–3 fewer workers needed
• Smooth operation with better safety control

The customer said the airbags were “easy to use, very stable, and safe during the entire launch.”

6. Conclusion and Future Plans

What We Achieved

The ES-type ship launching airbags are smarter and safer than traditional models. With dual-end control, strong structure, and smart pressure sensing, they meet higher standards and support many marine projects.

What’s Next

We plan to:

• Add smart control systems for remote monitoring.
• Offer more product options, such as heavy-duty and light-use models.
• Get more international certifications and grow in the global market.