Offshore Wind Meets Marine Engineering: Airbag Solutions in Action

Offshore Wind Power Jacket Foundation Installation Case Study
Project Name: Offshore Wind Jacket Foundation Buoyancy Support
Industry: Offshore Wind Energy / Oil & Gas
Country: China
Model Used: Marine Airbag D3.2m × L20.5m
Buoyancy Per Unit: 140 Tons
Completion Year: 2023

Overview

In 2023, NANHAI successfully supported the jacket foundation installation for a large offshore wind power project in China. This case reflects our commitment to advancing offshore renewable energy using proven marine engineering solutions. Our high-buoyancy airbags provided reliable and flexible support during the critical installation phase.

Project Background

China continues to expand its offshore wind power capacity. For these projects, jacket foundations serve as the base structure that anchors wind turbines to the seabed. These massive steel frameworks require precise handling during transportation and placement.

Traditionally, installation relies on heavy-lift vessels and cranes. However, such methods are expensive and sensitive to weather delays. To reduce risk and cost, the project team chose NANHAI’s marine airbag buoyancy system for jacket foundation deployment.

NANHAI’s Solution

NANHAI supplied custom-engineered marine airbags, each with a diameter of 3.2 meters and a length of 20.5 meters. Each airbag offered a buoyancy of up to 140 tons. This allowed the jackets to float partially, which made transport and positioning much easier.

Key benefits of NANHAI’s airbags in this project include:

• Strong Load Support: Each airbag helped carry the weight of the jacket during movement.
• Easy Handling: The lightweight design allowed quick deployment and retrieval, even in changing sea conditions.
• Lower Costs: The project avoided expensive crane ships, saving both time and budget.
• Safer Process: Reducing heavy lifting at sea meant lower operational risk.

Moreover, our technical team worked closely with the project engineers. This ensured smooth integration of the airbag system into the overall construction plan.

How the Operation Worked

First, NANHAI conducted onshore pressure and load tests to verify airbag performance. After that, our team supervised the on-site deployment.

Jackets were floated into position using the airbags. Then, with careful deflation and ballast control, they were gradually lowered onto the seabed.

As a result, the installation was completed on schedule without any major delays or safety issues.

Client Feedback

The project team highly praised NANHAI’s performance:

“NANHAI’s airbags helped us complete the foundation installation smoothly and safely. This solution proved to be reliable, economical, and easy to apply in offshore conditions. We will consider this method again in future wind farm projects.”

Conclusion

This project highlights how NANHAI’s marine airbags bridge the gap between traditional oil & gas offshore expertise and the growing needs of wind energy. By delivering buoyancy solutions tailored for offshore challenges, we help our clients reduce cost, improve safety, and enhance operational flexibility.

As offshore wind development accelerates, NANHAI stands ready with smart, scalable, and field-proven marine solutions.