Heavy-lift MPV launching with airbags

On October 25 Eversafe marine engineering company successfully launched a DWT 17000 heavy-lift MPV using ship launching marine airbags for Xinshun shipyard in Zhejiang province.
That double decks MPV measures 143.85 meters in total length,13.5 meters in breadth and 13.5 meters in moulded depth.It is equiped with two 250 tons and one 150 tons cranes. The design speed of MPV reach 16.3 knot. It is the first build ship get GL certification in the local area.
Eversafe Marine Engineering Company has executed 6 ship launching projects for this shipyard in the past two years.Airbag ship launching technology can shorten vessels’ delivery time and save launching slipway’s investment so it is warmly welcomed by most shipyards.
Eversafe technical team collected needed information of vessel ,slipway and water survey data and executed adequate calculation. The results from calculation shows during marine airbags lift and launch stage the safety coefficient is above 6 and 3 times respectively which measure up.
Ship launching airbags are all inspected from airtightness to pressure test before the use. Total 45 pieces ship launching airbags were employed to carry this launch project. At October 24, Eversafe team successfully replaced all keel supporting blocks with inflated marine airbags and adjust the inner pressures of airbags according to the plan. Before the launch the tilted angle of vessel is calibrated to be 1.6 degree to apparent horizon. This angle will determine the movement of launched vessel and the safety of launch so it need repeated calculation and computer simulation confirmation.
At October 25, when the high tide reached expected height shipyard’s dockmaster pulled the trigger of starting gun, then pulling steel ropes were chopped and ship started to move into the water by riding rolling marine airbags.The audiences’ hurrah and Chinese fireworks resound across the sky.
Qingdao Eversafe marine engineering Company is devoted be excellent by over ten years accumulation of executing marine airbags engineering projects. Eversafe can offer clients full service for airbag ship launching from design of slipway to detailed calculation. Never satisfied,always on the road is the motto of Eversafe people.

Airbag ship launching technology blooms

Airbag ship launching technology blooms all around the world by its safety and efficiency nowadays.Even in South America, people involved in ship building can also find this innovative ship launching method in local shipyards,
Eversafe Marine engineering Company strive to serve global clients for marine engineering projects. But for South America, we only once contracted ship launching projects for Chile one country. Last year Eversafe was invited to Surinam shipyards for providing ship launching airbags and launch service. That shipyard is invested by China Timber Resources Group and the biggest one in Caribbean area.
The first constructed cargo ship named “Zhongmu 1” which means China Timber NO. 1 ship . This DWT 1700 ship will mainly be used for transporting wood out of Guyana It took less than one year to complete the construct and was launched on February 26 2009 by Evergreen ship launching marine airbags. It is the first cargo ship build in Surinam so the launch ceremony was held ceremoniously. Surinamese Minister of Forestry, Minister of Transportation, Guyanese Minister of Agriculture, Ambassador Su Ge, Counsellor Cai Shuizeng attended the ceremony.
The launch process is commonplace for Eversafe engineers since the launch weight is only 400 tons and other launch conditions are good. We only need to supervise workers doing job according to the launch plan. The launch looks like a magic show with people hail all the time.
The success launch give Eversafe another contract for the succedent “Zhongmu 2” launch in 2010. The DWT 1800 cargo ship “Zhongmu 2” is the second ship built in PARAMARIBO Surinam invested by China Timber Resources Group. It takes 8 months to complete the build which shorten two months and also the cut the 3,000,000 RMB cost compare with the “Zhongmu 1” build. And cranes are equipped on “Zhongmu 2” to enable goods loading at Surinamese inland ports without heavy equipments.
The ship was launched at May 29. 2010 by ship launching airbags. Chinese Ambassador Yuan cut the ribbon at the launch ceromony, some local officers attended the launch also.
To launch vessels weigh less than 3000 tons with ship launching airbags (also called marine airbags) needs no constructed slipways. The common ground with enough bearing capacity is enough. For big vessel launch by airbags, concrete slipway will be better but the demand for it is much less than traditional slipway. So airbag ship launching can save most time and investment to help clients get advantages in fierce competition.

Jack up launch pictures

New Oil tanker launch by Evergreen ship launching airbags

Eversafe Marine Engineering Company, the subsidiary company of Evergreen Maritime, successfully launched a DWT 11000 Oil tanker with marine airbags for Jiangsu Huanqiu Shipbuilding Company on Sept. 15, 2010.
The vessel named “Future Light” measures 142 meters by total length and 19.5 meters by molded breadth. Its launching weight reaches 4300 tonnes and has 3.6 meters draft at stern. The launching slipway has the variational slope: 12/1000 radian from vessel bow to the watergate, 25/1000 radian beyond watergate until end of slipway. The width of slipway also changes from watergate from 25 meters reduced to 12 meters. The average river water depth of watergate position is 0.8 meters. The distance between oil tanker stern and gateway is more than 30 meters.
The biggest difficulty of this launch projection is the special structure of slipway which may cause the vessel incline to one side or run into dock when it pass by the 12 meter width slipway part. No time to rebuild or do any remediation work to the slipway. The only possible launch solution is using Evergreen airbag launching technology.
Eversafe engineers researched this project for two weeks, from calculation to digital simulation by software. At last we found by adjust the gravity distribution of oil tanker can remedy the inclination moment when vessel pass by the 12 meter width slipway part. To reassure ship owner we also suggest the installation of two Evergreen pneumatic fenders on the dock. The discussion meeting with shipyard and ship owner is cheerful, all people here think the launch proposal is the best and safe way that we can do at that time.
According the scheme the oil tanker will be moved toward river for 20 meters by marine airbags then laid on marine airbags until next day morning when the water reaches appropriate depth.
At Sept. 14, Eversafe team completed the move forward work using 42 pieces YT-6 Evergreen marine airbags that have 1.5 meters diameters and 18 meters length. The next day 8 am people begin to adjust the air pressures of marine airbags to make vessel inclined with right angle. At 9 am the launch water area is blocked and two tugboats are ready. With the shot of starting gun the pulling steel ropes are cut down and oil tanker enter into water straight forwards with the rolling marine airbags and anchor at the appointed place after total refloatation. Hails from people and fireworks which resound across the sky accompany the magic launch process. There is no splash of water, no stern or bow fall off, no decline to one side phenomena happen during the launch.
The success of this marine airbag ship launch project verifies Evergreen airbag launch theory again. Without accurate calculation people can’t complete the launch on defect slipway so smoothly. For shipyard and ship owner they are glad to deliver or get oil tanker on time without extra cost of slipway repair or employ launch barge.
Evergreen airbag ship launch technology is invented initially for emergency launch such as during war or nature calamity period people can launch vessel without constructed slipway. Nowadays this ship launch technology is developed into a very flexible and effective solution and sometimes it becomes an essential for launch under imperfect condition.

Landing craft launch with Evergreen marine airbags

Strategic Marine has delivered a 48.5 metre landing craft which will service the Australian offshore oil and gas industry and major projects including the multi-billion Gorgon Project.
The vessel, built for local Western Australian marine operations company Bhagwan Marine, will be used in Western Australian’s north-west hydrocarbon province and has been designed by International Maritime Consultants, to accommodate for low incline beach landings.
The craft’s design features a low angle bow to enable heavy equipment to be driven over the ramp door and with a 12.8 metre beam, the vessel can accommodate up to ten 20-foot containers with a maximum payload of 400 tonnes.
Although a multi-cargo vessel, it will be primarily used to transfer building and construction equipment in the areas around Dampier, Onslow and Barrow Island while an added advantage is its economical fuel consumption of about 150 litres per hour at 10 knots cruising speed.
The vessel, named “Bhagwan Shaker” after its sister vessel “Bhagwan Mover”, was built at Strategic Marine’s largest shipyard at Vung Tau .
Strategic Marine will also build a second 40 metre crew boat on speculation after the first 40 metre crew boat the company built on speculation was purchased by Tiong Woon.
Like the first 40 metre vessel, due for delivery around October 2010, the second 40 metre vessel will incorporate a central deck house with seating for 50 rig crew and will reach speeds of 25 knots.
It will be a sister ship to 14 similar vessels delivered to a number of clients over the past five years.
Strategic Marine’s Vietnamese yard successfully launched the first 143 m DSV using Evergreen airbag ship launching technology at April 2010. Then this innovative ship launch solution is found to be safe,flexible and effective. So the landing craft is decided to launch with marine airbags also.
The company is currently contracted for more than 25 vessels at its yards in Australia, Vietnam and Mexico and Singapore, equating to approximately $100 million (AUD) worth of orders.

Why Foam-filled Fenders?

Fenders are an essential part of any dock or harbor facility. Docking a ship is an imprecise matter, and fenders must be in place to keep ships from being damaged by bumping, scraping or crashing into docks. By the same token, the docks themselves must be protected from damage by ships. Fenders also come into play to prevent damage from ships coming into contact with each other. Every vessel from a pleasure craft to a fishing boat to a supertanker needs fenders; every structure from a dock to a bridge to an oil rig does, as well.
Historically, fenders were woven together from rope, in a variety of knots and patterns still known and used today by many traditionalists. They would typically be covered with a layer of old tires
as a buffer, then used as a fenderboard along a dock piling. Like everything else, fenders have been improved over the years.
For years, the inflatable Yokohama fender was the state-of-the-art fendering system. Yokohama fenders, however, require air pressure and safety valves that need to be maintained. Inflatable fenders also have a “recoil” that will cause ships to “bounce” in the other direction after contact. Thousands of inflatable Yokohama fenders are still in use worldwide, but the next logical progression in fender and mooring technology is the foam-filled fender. Constructed with a tough outer skin and heat-laminated layers of foam at their core, foam-filled fenders offer the following advantages:
• Softer berthing. Unlike the “bounce” of inflatable Yokohama fenders, a foam-filled fender rebounds more slowly, rather than jolting the ship and its passengers as it buckles and rebounds.
• All tide mooring. Foam-filled fenders, by design, make mooring easier regardless of tidal phase or conditions.
• Hull conforming. The design of the foam core in a foam-filled fender gives great resilience and the ability to conform to a vessel’s contours. The result is a more even distribution of energies over a greater area, and much lower hull pressures.
• Unsinkable. Like a fishing bobber, the foam core of a foam-filled fender makes it impossible to sink.
• Durable. Foam-filled fenders are available in different rubber compounds like neoprene, EPDM, butyl and polyurethane. The result is a product that is resistant to saltwater, ultraviolet rays, ozone aging, dry rot and extremes of temperature and weather, making it suitable for use in any environment worldwide.

"Ocean bravis " Launch with Evergreen Marine Airbags

Eversafe engineering team successfully launched a DWT 8,800 tons cargo vessel named "Ocean bravis "with 30 pcs Evergreen marine airbags on the July 13, 2010. It is the third vessels successfully launched by Eversafe team in July.
"Ocean bravis " is constructed for ARROZ group with 108m LOA,26m molded width. It is initially proposed to be launched on traditional slipway by end-on launching method. For some untold reason the shipyard decided to launch this vessel with marine airbags.
Evergreen maritime company is pioneer in maritime industry for providing innovative ship launch solution and top quality marine equipments which include marine airbags and pneumatic fenders etc.
Evergreen was honored to be invited to do the consulting work for “Ocean bravis” launch slipway alteration and launch contractor. According to the calculation and practical limitation of investment Evergreen provided customer a cost-effective solution of the slipway alteration which was agreed by the local authoritative department in a week.
For this launch project, the launch weight is only 3000 tons but the angle of slipway is much bigger than ideal condition so more calculations were performed to ensure the safety of launch.
Two SWL 25 tons winches and 30 pieces Evergreen marine airbags are employed to carry out this launch. Marine airbags are inflated from the bow to stern to lift up vessel from wooden blocks first. With the pull protection of winches marine airbags then be inflated or deflated again to adjust their working heights. After marine airbags are ready, people release the winches to let vessel go down slowly into water. When the stern is immersed at 1.5 meter depth, ropes that pulling the vessel are chopped to release ship go freely. Then vessel enters into water smoothly.
Marine airbag ship launching is developed into a flexible and easy technology with accumulated research and practical experience. It can overcome the limitations of traditional launch methods and it always can be found reliable and controllable.

How to select marine airbags for your launch project

Marine airbags will cause people most interest once people have the experience of watching marine airbag ship launching. It looks like the magic show that big vessel run into water by riding rolling pneumatic rollers. In China most new built vessels whose DWT below 60,000 are launched with the “flexible ship launching technology” which definitely differ from traditional launch methods. Marine airbag ship launching technology gets the least limitation of landscape so it can save people most money and time.
The first difficulty for people to apply marine airbag for ship launching is how to decide if the vessel can be launched by airbags and select marine airbags. Most Chinese manufacturers will only tell you to do what but not why to do that when you consult with them for your launch project. In fact some manufacturers don’t know much of the marine airbag ship launching technology even they make marine airbags. Some real jokes: a manufacturer sold many marine airbags to a Turkish client and when people prepared launch they found no place to fit all marine airbags into bottom of vessel. Another joke sounds like that a manufactures sold 20 pieces marine airbags with 2.5 meters diameter to Malaysian shipyard to launch a 60 meters tugboat with only 700 tons. To avoid be fooled by some unprincipled manufacturers, there are some lies that people must know.
Lie One: Bigger diameter means better performance
People may be fooled by numeral tricks when they read performance data of marine airbags issued from manufacturers. People are leaded to believe that the bigger diameters of marine airbags have the better performance. In fact the performance of marine airbags is decided by the burst pressure which means the maximum pressure of airbags can bear. It is easy to understand that for the same material made bigger volume container will has less burst pressure. From the test data people can prove this prediction comes from common sense: the bursting pressure of marine airbags with 1.5 and 2.5 meters diameter is 0.67 Mpa and 0.23 Mpa respectively. When a 1.5 m diameter marine airbags and another 2.5 m diameter one are inflated to the same pressure, it is definitely the bigger diameter one will rise up heavier objects because of its bigger contact surface. But the bigger diameter one gets some problems that its pressure can not exceeds 0.23 Mpa and it will lift up vessel higher which will cause the extra demand of launch water level also its bigger contact surface with ground will need more slip force for vessel to start movement. In a word, marine airbags with the diameters exceed 2 meter are suit for some special lifting use not for vessel launching. During ship launching process marine airbags will be compressed and their inner pressure will rise to be nearly 2-3 times of initial pressure so marine airbags must have 3 time safety coefficient. Most 2-2.5 meters marine airbags can not get 2 times safety coefficient.
Lie Two: More plies means better safety
Some clients would like to believe marine airbags with more plies will ensure better safety. It is true that the 7 pliers marine airbags’ maximum pressure is higher than 6 pliers one. But good arrangement and maintenance will ensure much more safety of your marine airbags. The thickness and maximum pressure will increase no more than 8% when marine airbag’s plies increase one. So in most cases marine airbags with more plies can not offer a visible enhanced safety but the psychological effect. In fact the professional manufacturer has optimized the plies and structure of marine airbags. Most popular Evergreen marine airbags are 6 pliers. They have the best cost performance and more than 5 times safety coefficient which is enough for most marine projects.
Lie Three: More marine airbags employed for project means better safety
Like people always say going too far is as bad as not going far enough, too many marine airbags for the launch project may cause danger. There is a minimum space required for marine airbags arrangement. If marine airbags are placed too closer, they may huddle together and can not roll forward when they are compressed more during the launching process. Please note marine airbags will be compressed differently in the different launching period. Even marine airbags are not adjoining before the launch they can still huddle together in launching period.
After see through lies of marine airbags people may ask then how can we know if our vessel can be launched by marine airbags? The answer is simple: four conditions should be satisfied.
1. Vessel is prepared to be end launching
2. DWT below 60,000 tonnes
3. Launching channel’s width no less than 1.5 times of vessel’s length
4. For some special ship launching such as V-shape vessel additional brackets may be needed
To select suitable marine airbags for your marine projects you may refer the following.
There are two industrial standards for marine airbags in China.: one is product standard named “Air bag for ship up to or down to launching way “(CB/T 3795-1996 / CB/T 3795-2009); another is technology standard named “Technological Requirements for ship Upgrading or Launching Relying on Air-bags” (CB/T 3837-1998).The latter offer the basic calculation of marine airbags employed in a marine project.
According to Chinese industrial standards people will know the approximate quantity and specifications of marine airbags needed for their projects. There maybe optional specifications to be selected for a specific marine project and a good manufacturer should know the best choice. Suggestions from Qingdao Evergreen Maritime Company: for ship launching, the airbag’s diameter and length should not exceed 2.0 meter and 18 meter respectively; for caisson conveying, the 1.0 meter diameter is suitable for most projects.
The data of marine airbags’ blasting pressure will reveal the product’s quality level. For top quality marine airbags, such as one 1.5 m diameter and 7 m length Evergreen marine airbag, the blasting pressure is 0.67 Mpa which indicates the safe coefficient is more than 5 considering its 0.12Mpa working pressure. Never forget to ask for the maximum pressure from manufacturers if you want to buy marine airbags from them.
Full technical service is the qualification of a good company. Although general calculation formula or performance data of marine airbag can be got from most factories but detailed calculations based on mathematic model and experience is more important to the success of marine projects.

In a word marine airbags is a good powerful tool for lots of marine projects but people need to know some principles before using it.

DWT35,000 cargo ship launched by Evergreen marine airbags

Eversfae engineering company successfully launched a DWT35,000 cargo ship with 48 pieces Evergreen marine airbags on June 15 2010.This vessel named “Five continents 05” was built by Five Continents Shipbuilding Company located in Jiangsu province.
Marine airbag ship launching projects are commonplace but to launch a big vessel is still an exciting work. “ Five continents 05” measures 178 meters long and 28 meters width, its launching weight is 9,000 tons. This vessel is built on a 0.01 radian concrete slipway which has abrupt down end, a very dangerous structure for marine airbag ship launching. The drafts of stern and bow are 4.2 meters and 2.4 meters respectively.
The difficulties of this launching project are as follows: bad slipway, heavy weight, long length. A vessel will not start to move relying on gravity’s slipping down component of gravity force if its inclined angle is 0.01 radian. Long vessel will need careful arrangement of marine airbags to ensure the safety of hull structure.
After negotiating with shipyard, Eversafe engineers supervised the modification of slipway end structure and got two tugboats to handle with any emergency during the launching. At June 14 Evergreen team began to inflate well arranged marine airbags to raise vessel and remove wooden blocks. Firstly, eight pieces marine airbags under the bow were inflated to be 0.20 MPa pressure then twenty pieces marine airbags were inflated to be 0.18 Mpa and left airbags were inflated to be 0.16 Mpa. So the vessel was lifted by total 48 pieces marine airbags easily.
As the high tide time of June 15 is at 9 AM the launching time is set at 8:45. In the morning of Jun 15, Eversafe team began to adjust pressures of 20 pieces marine airbags under stern to be 0.12 Mpa and 28 pieces marine airbags under bow to be 0.2 Mpa. Then the vessel got an approximate 0.013 radian inclined angle. At 8:40 am, people began to chop up the steel ropes which were attached to winches to pull ship to avoid unexpected slip. As soon as the ropes broke down vessel started to move into water by riding rolling marine airbags smoothly. It took 2 minutes from the vessel’s movement start to fully float.
From this ship launching project people can easily find irrefutable evidence of Evergreen marine airbags’ excellent quality. During the vessel lifting up period, pressures of eight pieces marine airbags reach 0.2 Mpa and holding these pressures more than 10 hours. It means each marine airbag bears more than 300 tons weight and no air leakage occurs in 10 hours.
Evergreen Maritime is devoted to be excellence. Up to date technology and new material are constantly applied to manufacture of marine airbags to assure Evergreen marine airbags can always satisfy customers’ increasing demands.

Tunisian 950 Ton Ferry launched by Evergreen Marine Airbags

950 Ton newly constructed Ferry by Societe De Constructions Industrielles Et Navales was to be launched in Sfax, Tunisia with Evergreen Marine airbags.
After an initial study of various methods of ship launching, Evergreen Marine Airbags proved to be the pioneering and promising technology for this launch.
ISEAS being a representative of Evergreen in Middle East, Africa and India Region, was pleased to get this opportunity to do a technical feasibility study for the launching of this newly constructed Ferry.
At an initial stage, ISEAS’ representative carried out technical feasibility study by personally visiting the site. Various aspects of launching the ferry with Evergreen Marine Airbags were considered and discussed in detail.
Considering the shape of the bottom of the ferry, V shaped hull, it was critical to choose the right size of airbags as well as to design the slip way appropriately. The size of Evergreen Marine Airbags to be used was advised after a careful and systematic study. Accordingly the slip way angle was suggested.
It was also noted that this Ferry was constructed on a flat ground in Tunisia. Fortunately the flexibility of airbags proved remedy to this practical limitation; the slope could be created by adjusting the inner air pressure of the Evergreen Marine Airbags.
With all the necessary recommendation a complete report was submitted by ISEAS in order to ensure the safe and certain launch with this technology.
Prelaunch Preparatory and Evergreen Marine Airbags Inspection was carried out at an intermediate stage. ISEAS’ engineer effectively pressure tested all the Evergreen Airbags and inspected all other pre launching preparation.
Finally on 26th of May 2010, Vessel was ready to be launched with Evergreen Airbags Technology and as anticipated after all the necessary preparation under the supervision of ISEAS personnel, Mr. Krishan Kumar, the vessel glided into the water effortlessly as expected. The launch was Successful.

Pipes float application of Evergreen marine airbags

Evergreen marine airbags are the versatile marine tools for marine engineering applications. Marine airbags can be used for ship launching and landing, heavy transportation and refloatation.
Recently, a ferry port engineering project employed Evergreen marine airbags for the drain pipes transportation by sea. People filled pipes with inflated marine airbags and then launch pipes into the sea by riding rolling airbags. After that tugs pulled floating pipes to the destination. This effective method saves people most money and time.

splashy ship launching

Intercoastal Iron Works, a shipyard along the US Gulf of Mexico splashy launched a 72 x32-foot push boat. It is a very interesting ship launching project that employed solid rollers for launching which act as logs in heavy transportation. If Evergreen marine airbags had been used to launch this vessel, the launch will be very smooth and much safer. Marine airbags are flexible and can adjust the working heights according to the pressures so marine airbags can protect the vessel while being launched. Also the friction between marine airbags and vessel can slow down the movement of vessel thus no big splash will happen.

Marine airbags may help Nan'ao No 1 yield her secrets

Archeologists on Thursday began to retrieve and clean relics from a second cabin of the sunken merchant vessel in South China's Guangdong province.
More than 2,000 items had already been recovered from another cabin, including porcelain plates, mugs, vases, plates, bowls and other small dishes, as well as metal pots and weapons.
As the ship slowly yields her secrets, on Wednesday some blue porcelain plates bearing people's images were brought to the surface for the first time.
Other new relics that surfaced on Wednesday included some items made of color-glazed porcelain, which is more valuable than blue and white porcelain.
Tin ware, iron shotguns and canons were also retrieved.
This indicates Chinese people had begun to use iron shotguns and canons since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), And the new relics, many with patterned Chinese characters on them, suggests that the vessel may have been sailing to Japan, South Korea or other Southeast Asian countries.
These countries were deeply influenced by the ancient Chinese Han culture and had established close trade relations with China when the ship sank.
It is believed women were on board the ship after some women's metal finger rings were brought to the surface. The people on board may have escaped when the boat sank off the cost some 400 years ago.According to archeologists, the ship is believed to have had five to six cabins, carrying more than 10,000 objects.
Nan'ao No 1, which is now 27 meters under water, sank during the Ming dynasty and was first discovered by local fishermen in 2007.
The wooden vessel, which is well preserved and remains intact, will eventually be brought to the surface and hoisted from the water, Then marine airbags maybe used for the vessel aboarding just like the famous Nanhai NO 1 salvage project. Marine airbags ship launching and landing technology is the innovative marine solution created by Chinese and widely used for various marine projects around the world.

Marine salvage & refloatation with Evergreen airbags

Evergreen marine airbags are the powerful and convenient tool for many marine salvage works.
To send a stranded ships back to water marine airbag is the most convenient tool. People can insert airbags to the buttom of vessel and then inflate them. With the pull of a tugboat or push of a bulldozer, ship can easily move into water with the roll of airbags.
A typical case from one of our customers:
http://www.resolvesalvage.com/news_item.php?id=92)

Kian Juan Dockyard

Kian Juan Dockyard in Miri, Sarawak, East Malaysia occupies 100 meters of river frontage on a 15-acre site in the Kuala Barm Industrial Estate. There is space for the fabrication of several vessels up to 80 meters and 2000 TDW at one time. In late March they had several vessels under construction including a pair of 29x9-meter tugs being built to a design by United Ship Design of Sibu. The full-bodied tugs have a double-chine design and a 4.26-meter molded depth.
Propulsions power is provided by a pair of Cummins KTA38 M2 engines producing 1200 hp each at 1800 RPM and turning nozzle-equipped 2x1.69-meter propellers through Twin Disc MG5301 gears with 5.947:1 ratios. Estimated bollard pull is 30 tons with a designed 11-knot light running speed. The 2400 hp boats are fitted with single drum towing winches with 600 meters of 48 m/m wire. Electrical power is provided by two Cummins 6BT-powered 80 Kw generator sets for each vessel.

Landing craft have evolved a long way from the ubiquitous boats that brought US Marines ashore on South Pacific islands in the closing days of World War II. These handy boats have grown dramatically in size and power over the years but they maintain the shallow draft and forward ramp that allows them to load or off-load in shallow ports with little or no pier infrastructure. Marine airbags

The shipyards of Miri and Sibu in East Malaysia have developed the landing craft to a sophisticated cargo carrier for both liquids and deck cargos. A recent example, designed by United Ship Design of Sibu, is the SK Line 11 from the Kian Juan Dockyard Sdn. Bhd of Miri, Sarawak. In spite of a length over all of 45.5 meters (149.28 feet) and a 10.9-meter (35.76 feet) the vessel has a draft of only 2.4-meters (7.87 feet). These dimension give the landing craft at huge open deck forward. Under the deck a number of tanks provide for fuel oil in 42-tonne operating tanks and 256-tonne long range or cargo tanks. Additional tankage provides for 98 tonnes of ship’s water and 364 tonnes of cargo water. Marine airbag

The boat is powered by a pair of 640 hp Cummins KTA19-M3 engines turning into Reintjes WAF364L gears with 4.481:1 gears to give the boat an eleven-knot design speed. Additional engines include a pair of Cummins 6BTA-powered 80 kW generator sets and a bow thruster engine. A three-level deckhouse set well aft includes two accommodation decks with bunks for up to 20 crewmembers. On the navigation bridge deck a davit is fitted to launch a rescue craft mounted there. Marine airbag

The SK Line 11 is one of several being built at Kian Juan Dockyard for a Malaysian customer and it will be registered in Kuching Malayasia. Recently a similar vessel was delivered from another Miri yard for a UK customer who will use it in the Falkland Islands. It seems likely that other owners around the world will find these vessels an attractive option for areas with limited dockage and infrastructure.
Marine airbag

Muji Rahayu Shipyard

Yard owner Mr. H. Darmansyah and naval architect Surjo Adji have been building and delivering successful landing craft and tugs. Now they are preparing to build a range of supply vessels for the oil industry. With build slots in shipyards around the world booked into the future it can be a challenge for owners to find a secure slot in a yard’s schedule and even more so to find such a slot in a yard with a well-proven track record. A number of owners are coming to the small city of Samarinda to take advantage of the skills that have developed there over the years.
Work is now beginning on the construction of two models of supply vessels. The first is a 36.6 by 10-meter vessel to be powered by a pair of Cummins KTA38-M2 engines each generating 1200 HP. Turning through Twin Disc gears, the engines will swing 48-inch Kaplan-type props in kort nozzles. While primarily a supply vessel the boat will be fitted with a single drum winch and is expected to have a 70-ton bollard pull and a free running speed of 12 knots. This vessel is being built to Bureau Veritas class for a Malaysian owner based at Terengganu Darul Iman on the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
The second design is for a larger 45 by10.8-meter boat to be powered by a pair of Cummins QSK60 engines each delivering 2000 hp. These engines will turn 52-inch propellers in nozzles for an estimated bollard pull in excess of 80 tons. This vessel will also be fitted with a bow thruster. The owner will install his own deck winch. Marine airbag
Mr. H. Darmansyah
President
Muji Rahayu Shipyard
JL Kemangi Blok KKK No.07
Samarinda 75126
Kalimantan Timur
Indonesia

Marine airbag launching slipway

What’s Marine airbag launching slipway

Generally slipway designed for airbag launching can be described as two parts: above water part and under water part. The vessel will be built on the above water part which has the small incline angle. And the under water part has bigger angle which can give launched vessel more slide forward force and make airbags can roll out of buttom of vessel. The distance,angle and structure of under water part are very important for the success of launching and also the safty of airbags.
If possible concrete slipway is the best. For temporary vessel launching, strong enough ground is acceptable.
The design of slipway need scientific calculation and computer simulation test. And good design slipway can suit most vessel’s’ launching.

Evergreen marine airbag launched Hull 156 in Vietnam

The vedio of Hull 156 launched with Evergreen marine airbags can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Y9mp5gfA0

Evergreen Airbags successfully launched a 6800 tonnes DSV in Vietnam

On April 6 Strategic Marine (V) successfully launched a 6800 tonnes DSV with 44 pieces ship launching airbags in Vung Tau City Vietnam. The DSV named “Caballo Maya” has the 143 meters overall length and 22 meters moulded breadth.
Evergreen Maritime is a professional manufacturer of marine airbags and also global contractor of airbag launching projects. Evergreen offered Strategic Marine (v) the total pack for his DSV launching which include marine airbags and on site consultant service.
Strategic Marine is an International Shipbuilding company that specialises in both aluminum and steel construction. The Australian born shipbuilder currently operates shipyards in Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and Mexico.
The “Caballo Maya” was built on a 1.37 degree slipway which consists of cement columns and rubbles. The extended slipway to the sea was covered by well welded steel plates and all the joints were abraded to be smooth.
The procedure of “Caballo Maya” launching can be described as follows: first step lift up the ship with airbags and remove all wooden blocks; second step move the ship forward 35 meters; third step cut steel ropes to release the ship when the tide water reach enough high.
Two 50 tonnes winches were employed to pull the ship from unexpected sliding before we began to inflate airbags to lift up vessel from blocks. It took six hours to lift up whole ship and remove all blocks. When we tried to move ship forward in the evening of April 5 some places of slipway sinked that caused us big trouble. Ten Evergreen airbags under the bow were inflated to be 0.17 Mpa and twelve airbags under stern were deflated to be 0.10 Mpa thus gave the ship more slide force to move. At the midnight of April 5 the ship was positioned at the right place after 5 hours hard working.
In the next day morning 800 tonnes ballast water were added to the ship’s cabins to gain the stability of launching. At 4 PM of April 6 when the water depth reached 4.5 meters, John Wray, the site manager of Strategic Marine sent out the “go” command. Two steel ropes were chopped up at the same time then the big vessel began to move with the rolling Evergreen airbags and entered into the sea smoothly. It is a real magic show that all people are affected to cheer and scream.
To complete this launching project it is a trial for Evergreen marine airbags and ship launching technology. Evergreen focuses on the products’ quality and technology development so Evergreen knows how.
Evergreen will continue to do his contribution to world maritime industry.

Evergreen marine airbag ship landing process

1. Fasten the ship with guy rope or cable attached firmly with the winch.
2. Select a reasonable position near the bottom of bow to insert one or more marine airbags which will act as the fulcrum for winch to move the ship when inflated and lift the bow. If it is difficult to insert airbags at the bottom of bow, people may insert them from one side to another side. For heavy ship the quantity of bow lifting airbags should be added until they can lift the bow. For V shape bow ship the bow lifting marine airbags should be inserted at the position where they can have bigger contact area with the bottom of ship. Also, people may place airbags at appropriate positions at low tide and pull the ship upon marine airbags at high tide, then inflate airbags to lift the ship. Anyway people should make the ship landing plan according to his practical situation.
3. After the bow lifted, start the winch to pull ship towards lands and insert more marine airbags to the space between ship bottom and land until the full ship is pull upon the slipway.
4. Charge marine airbags further to lift ship bottom higher, then insert the wooden stands and withdraw marine airbags.

Evergreen Marine airbag ship launching process

Evergreen marine airbag is widely used in the ship building, ship repairing, oil and gas, marine salvage companies nowadays.
Now we are making a brief introduction of Evergreen airbag ship launching procedure as follows:
1. According to the calculation, prepare enough marine airbags, towing winch machine, air compressor and other instruments needed.
Before using, all airbag should be inflated with 1.25 time inner pressure of working pressure to test its safety and air tightness. If there is air leakage, it should be patched before using.
2. Clear all the obstacles and sharp iron nail from the slipway.
3. Check on the uneven scar caused by welding of heavy steel structure to ensure ship’s bottom is smooth.
4. Fasten towing winch with ship.
5. Close all the valves, fix the helm and screw propeller.
6. Take out all the wooden stands under the ship, insert rolling airbags. There are many ways to do it. Now we introduce two most used ways as follows. The user may choose one of them according to the weight of ship and quantity of marine airbags.
A. For the light weight ship, airbags can fully lift the ship and make it to detach with the wooden stands. Then it is easy to insert other airbags and remove the wooden stands.
B. For the heavy ship, we use airbags to lift the ship at the stern of ship. So we must find the best point for bow supporting point and lift airbag. From the figure, we can know the bow supporting point should near to ship’s transverse gravity center. But consider the workforce of removing wooden stands before bow supporting point we should select that point at a reasonable place. The lifting air bag should far away from the gravity center to get a bigger lift moment. Sometimes we have to consider the figure of ship’s bottom to decide the lifting point. In one word we should find the best lifting point to get the maximum lifting moment.

To lift the ship the following condition should be satisfied
Q•LQ〉W•LW
Q-bearing capacity
W-weight of ship
LQ-distance from lifting point to bow supporting point
LW-distance from gravity center to bow supporting point
C. First take out all the wooden stands in front of lifting airbag and bow supporting point. Insert the lifting airbag and start to inflate and stop charging as soon as the bottom of ship dispatch with the wooden stands. Then take out the wooden stands from the ship middle to stern, insert more airbags at planned positions. Repeat above process to remove all the wooden stands and place air bags.
In order to ensure the safety, we should insert some flexible wooden stands. When the air bags can lift the full weight of ship, we can take out these stands.

Not finished. Please contact author to get whole edition.

Guide for Evergreen Marine Airbags Repairing-Interview with Evergreen Maritime

When there is air leakage, identified the crack propagation by visual inspection on the marine airbags to check on the rubber characteristic by determine the surface whether seriously aging (fatigue fracture and sticky surface).
There are two ways of patching, which are hot and normal temperature sulfuration.
Now we introduce the hot sulfuration as follows:
1. Clean up thoroughly inner and outer marine airbags to ensure totally clean especially on the outer wall surface. Don’t immerse into the water more than 10 miutes before patching.
2. Marking/indentified the air leakage area by extending “wound” part outward 15mm.
3. Patch ply depends on the size of flake leakage area.
If leakage area approx. 100mm or propagating fracture 50-70mm will be patched with 4-6layers.
And it’s better to equipped “+” cushion of Nylon.
Note:
The material of interleave should be same with marine airbag. And the angle of line also should be same with the marine airbag body.
The first layer of interleave is ordinate. Length= length of “wound” + 50 x 2m
The second layer of interleave is bias. The angle should be same with marine airbag’s body. And it should be 20mm bigger than the first layer.
The third layer of interleave also is bias. The angle should be contrary with the second layer. And it’s 20mm bigger than the second layer. The 4th-6th layers is analogy.
Circular angle is required around the interleave. The semi diameter is 40-50mm.

4. File the flake leakage area by sand paper in single way direction for several times to ensure clean & smooth surface surrounding the fracture area. Remember to clean it again with compressed air.
5. The whole process should ensure there is no unwanted particular embedded and dry up the air bag surface. Then brush up some 502 glue with glue mixture of pure rubber material: petroleum base chemical of 1:8.
6. patching process - use prepared mentioned layer to patch.
7. Vulcanizing press process - using the rack structure indicated below to carried out vulcanizing process by heating up to 135 ± 5℃; press the flake leakage area with 0.08-0.12 Mpa pressure for 40-50minutes.
8. Inspection - Check the patching area to ensure the tight agglutination. Then inflate the air bag for final checking.

What's Evergreen Marine Airbags-Interview with Evergreen Maritime

Evergreen is the inventor of first marine airbag, and sets the standard in the industry for high performance and usage technology. Now, Evergreen Marine Airbags (ship launching marine airbags) are widely used in ship launching and landing, sunken ships salvage and refloatation, heavy lifting and conveying.
Evergreen Salvage / Refloatation Marine Airbags are the most commonly used tool for recovering submerged objects and supply enough buoyancy for objects. Floating Evergreen Marine Airbags are very small in size while deflated. Thus, they can be easily transported and deployed when space is an issue and under water conditions. We can provide the exact floating ton capability based on clients requirements. The Evergreen Salvage / Refloatation Airbags have flexible applications and can be broadly implemented in shipwreck salvaging, floating bridge and dock construction, rescue and remove of wrecked ships. It is also being use as temporary marine transportation device.
Construction Features:
Evergreen Salvage / Refloatation Marine Airbag, basic body consists of which consist of our rubber layers, synthetic-cord-reinforced rubber layers, are kind of a cylindrical airbags with hemispherical heads at the both ends. All of these are vulcanized together, and then compress air inside to enable in to roll.
1. Outer Rubber
The outer rubber layer that covers the outside of evergreen salvage airbags 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. Standard color is black.
2. Synthetic-tire-cord layer for reinforcement
The reinforcement cord layers of marine airbag, which are made of Synthetic-tire-cord commonly used in tires, are arranged at ideal angles to hold the internal pressure and to distribute the stress evenly providing strong efficient reinforcement.
(To know the detailed technology parameter, please refer Material Selection.)
3. End Fittings
End fittings of evergreen salvage / refloatation airbags include air tightness swivel and airbags safety air inlet.
4. Lifting Strap
Nylon (Polyester fabric) straps and shackles are used for the lifting underwater. Other type designs are available upon clients’ requirement.
Classification:
1. The standard specification of Evergreen Marine Airbags.
You can choose the required diameter and effective length to meet your projects.
 Diameter (D) : It’s from 0.8m to any.
 Effective Length (EL) : It’s from 6m to any.
 Total Length (TL) : It’s from 7m to any
The above specification only is our standard specification arrange. Other specification also can be supplied upon clients’ request.
2. The standard number of layers
We define the number of layer, which means the number of Synthetic-tyre-cord layer, in order to confirm the Safety Working Pressure. Normally, our airbags include 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 layers types. Other type is available upon clients’ request.
3. The material of Evergreen Marine Airbags
There’re two kinds of synthetic-tire-cord because of the different performance.

Item Unit 1400 dtex/2 1870 dtex/2
Break Strength N/ strand ≥ 215.6 ≥ 284.2
Diameter mm 0.65 ± 0.05 0.74 ± 0,05
Adhesion Strength N/cm ≤ 137.2 ≤ 156.8

We define the suitable Evergreen Marine Airbags as per the above 3 items.
Such as: Evergreen Salvage / Refloatation Airbags D1.5m x EL 15m YT-6, 1870D Type
In here:
1. D 1.5m: the diameter is 1.5m
2. EL 15m: the effective length is 15m
3. YT-6: the number of Synthetic-tire-cord layer is 6 layers
4. 1870D: the type of Synthetic-tire-cord layer is 1870
Features and Advantages:
 Unique whole enlacing technology
 Excellent material selection as per ISO 17357
 Cost effective, long service life
 Guaranteed quality and safety
 Free consult and design project
 Laboratory and field test
 Commission and technical directing service
 Well proven design and performance
 0.7 Mpa hydraulic blasting utmost
 After service for lifetime

Evergreen Maritime Contract with CNOOC for Fender System Design and Supply

Qingdao Evergreen Maritime and CNOOC contracted on March 3, 2010 for the fender system design and supply of Lu Da 27-2/32-2 oil platforms.

CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation SEHK: 0883, NYSE: CEO) is China’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas and one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world.

Lu Da 27-2/32-2 (PSP) located in Bohai Bay is an 8-leg process and storage platform that holds a huge oil tank with a capacity of 1.2768 X 104 m3.
Evergreen Maritime Company as the professional manufacturer of pneumatic fenders and ship launching airbags has a long time cooperation with CNOOC in many fields, such as airbag ship launching service and boat fender design and supply. For oil platform fender system, it is the first time cooperation between two companies.

Different from general dock fender system design, the oil platforms have extra demand of anti-shock and worse sea conditions. Evergreen engineers researched all data and drawings of the platforms with assistance from CNOOC experts for more than two weeks. Then a new fender system comes out: super arch rubber fenders plus Evergreen pneumatic fenders. This fender system is tested by digital simulation software developed by Evergreen Maritime Company and the result says safety ratio is greater than 2 whether in shuttle ship berthing condition or mooring status.
On March 5, two sets of pneumatic fender were trucked to Tianjin Port then will be shipped to the Lu Da 27-2/32-2 platform. Evergreen engineers will go to the platform for the installation instruction soon.
For the latest headway please visit our website: http://www.evergreen-maritime.com.

Ship Launching Revolution-Marine airbag ship launching

The ship launching history is more than thousands years. Nowadays the most commonly used ship launching method is still the oldest end-on launching, in which the vessel slides down an inclined slipway with stern first. Another ship launching method is side launch which is often used on narrow water area by launching the ship broadside. The float-out method means building a ship in basins or dry stocks and then admitting water into the dock to float the ship. The traditional ship launching methods need the fabricated slipways or dry stocks and supporting facilities so the engineering period is long and expensive. When shipyards suffer from the production problem of short of slipways or expensive investment of new fixture they need a solution for sure. For salvage of stranded vessels people also need a less equipments and landform limited ship launching method.
Evergreen airbag launching system is an innovative flexible ship launching method and need the least supporting fixture. It demands the ramp for ship launching only enough bearing capability and neatness. The main instruments of Evergreen airbag launching system are marine airbags, air- compressor and regular winches. The sausage shape marine airbags are made up of rubber layers with rubber dipped synthetic-tyre-cords as reinforcement material. Their diameters range from 1 to 2 meters and lengths range from 6-20 meters. One marine airbag for 1.5 meter diameter and 18 meter length can hold over 200 tons weight. Marine airbags act as the air springs and rolling logs when they conveying ships to water.
Ship launching with marine airbags have a more than ten years history in China. But only in these years this technique develops into an integrated system with the advancement of manufacture and establishment of theory system. It is estimated that more than 80 percent new built ship whose DWT below 60,000 are launched by marine airbags in China. In fact Evergreen airbag ship launching system is not only a good alternative but also indispensable to some given marine projects. A typical ship launching project completed by Evergreen airbag launching system will well illustrate the character of this system.
At July 2009, a new built 20,000DWT ship on a no fixture ramp was successfully launched by Evergreen airbag launching system in Chinese Jiangsu province. This cargo ship is 150 meter long and 21.6 meter width with 7800 tons light weight. For some untold reasons, it was built upon a 200 meter long concrete ramp without fixture or anchor block. The angle of concrete ramp is 0.86 degree and its connection of river water is unsettled mud. This inland river is 350 meter wide with 7-11 meter deep water. The distance between the ship stern and end of ramp is 15 meters. Because there was no anchor block on the ramp, the winch was not available. Then two major difficulties came out: how to start the movement of ship launching and how to avoid the unwanted slip when ship was lifted from the wooden blocks.
In low tide period, mud of riverside was cleaned by an excavator grab and some sand bags were placed to fulfill pits on the riverbed. Total 34 pieces marine airbags with 1.5 m diameter and 18 m effective length were placed between wooden blocks according to the calculation. The charge of airbags was strictly executed according to the scheme which demands the sequence and exact working pressure of each airbags. From the calculation and computer simulation, the ship would not slip at maximum 0.57 degree when it was raised up by airbags. So during the “raise-up” process the principle was control the ship’s gradient angle not exceed 0.57 degree. Airbags were inflated from the stern to midship one after the other until exceeded the gravity center position. Then inflation from bow to midship was carried out to rise up the whole ship. After all supporting wooden blocks removed, airbags at the bow was deflated to adjust the ship’s gradient angle to be 0.45 degree which would make the ship to be safer from the unexpected slipping.
When the tide reached needed level airbags were inflated and deflated respectively to adjust the ship’s gradient angle to be 0.57 degree again. And an excavator grab whose shovel was wrapped with tyres began to push the bulbous bow to give a start-up force. After twice push, the ship started to move slowly by riding rolling airbags and the movement was self-accelerated until stern floated because of ship’s increasing gradient angle. It took 62 seconds from ship’s movement start to total float while the preparation works took more than 12 hours.
This launching project exhibits the convenience and efficiency of Evergreen airbag launching system which can save most time and investment comparing with traditional slipway launching. Because of the advantages Evergreen airbag launching system has been applied to ship launching, ship landing, heavy conveying, wrack salvage, etc. For example, the Chinese invaluable 800-year-old ship “Nanhai No.1” was landed and conveyed by marine airbags and it is said the airbag launching system is one of the most important factors which ensure the success of salvage project .And for gravity quay building, more than 60% power plants use this system to launch prefabricated caissons in China. For marine salvage, Evergreen airbag launching system is widely used by American salvage companies to launch or refloat wrecks.

Conclusion
Evergreen airbag launching system is simple but powerful. It is less limited by equipments and landform and can save most investment and time to complete marine projects. With the development of theoretical system integrity and computer simulation technology, Evergreen airbag launching system will be accurately controllable and becomes into the cutting-edge solution for launching projects.

How to select marine airbags

There are two industrial standards for marine airbags in China.: one is product standrad named “Air bag for ship up to or down to launching way “(CB/T 3795-1996 / CB/T 3795-2009) ;another is technology standard named “Technological Requirements for ship Upgrading or Launching Relying on Air-bags”(CB/T 3837-1998).The latter offer the basic calculation of marine airbags employed in a marine project.
According to Chinese industrial standards people will know the approximate quantity and specifications of marine airbags needed for their projects then consult the manufacturer to confirm the design. There maybe optional specifications to be selected for a specific marine project and a good manufacturer should know the best choice. Suggestions from Qingdao Evergreen Maritime Company :for ship launching, the airbag’s diameter and length should not execeed 2.0 meter and 18 meter respectively;for caisson conveying, the 1.0 meter diameter is suitable for most projects.
The data of marine airbags’ blasting pressure will reveal the product’s quality level. For top quality marine airbags,such as one 1.5 m diameter and 7 m length Evergreen marine airbag, the blasting pressure is 0.67 Mpa which indicates the safe coefficient is more than 5 considering its 0.12Mpa working pressure.
Full technical service is the qualification of a good company. Although general calculation formula or performance data of marine airbag can be got from most factories but detailed calculations based on mathematic model and experience is more important to the success of marine projects.

In a word
Marine airbag is a simple but powerful marine tool which should get more attention from people involved in marine fields. It is less limited by equipments and landform and can save most investment and time to complete a marine project. And the flexibility of marine airbags not only mean airbags can give more protection to being launched objects but also it can be used creatively.

The advantages of Evergreen marine airbags

Less landform limited
Marine airbags only need the enough bearing power ground.
Most less fixture needed
For most works ,marine airbags need no more than air compressors,winches and forklifts.
Environment Protective
Marine airbags do no harm to the environment.No chemical needed.
Multi-functional
Marine airbags can be used for ship launching /landing,heavy conveying, buoyancy lifting even the temporary ship fenders.
Cost-effective
For ship launching,marine airbags can save the investment of traditional slipway or drydock. For caisson conveying projects,marine airbags can save 50 percentage cost compare to the traditional way of employing crane ship and semi-submersible ship .Caisson can be launched by marine airbags and suspended in the sea with the help of attached airbags’ buoyancy then one or two tugboat can complete the sea transportation.When caisson arrive the appointed spot,airbags can be deflated to let the caisson sink.

Marine Airbags: Innovative and Versatile Marine Tool (part 1)

Introduction
Marine airbags are widely used in China for ship launching ,caisson conveying and marine salvage nowadays. It is estimated that more than 80 percent new built ship whose DWT below 60,000 and about 50 percent caisson fabricated for gravity quay are launched by marine airbags.Not only in China but also other Asian countries marine airbags are acknowledged as the powerful and versatile tool for marine works.

The history of marine air bag dates back to 1990s. A Chinese ship repair and building shipyard launched a 60 DWT tank barge with marine airbags on January 20, 1981 and it is known as the first use of marine airbags. The invention of marine airbags was expected to develop a flexible, less limited ship launching method.

Over the past twenty years, marine airbags have made great advancements in the manufacture and application. The first generation marine airbags employ rubber dipped canvases as reinforcement material and two cone-shaped ends are stuck to the chamber trunk. Now the top marine airbags are seamless and their performances are about 15 times of the first generation with the same specifications. Regarding the launching/landing technology, marine airbags have also achieved a significant leap. In the beginning, only small and flat bottom ships located on a fabricated slope could be launched with marine airbags. Now this technology is more flexible and less limited by the ship and landform. The DWT of launched ship reached 55,000 and launching ramp can be aclinic. Not only for ship launching marine airbags are widely used for heavy conveying also. Marine airbags contributed much to the success of famous Nanhai No.1 ancient ship salvage project. The 4,800 tons cassion which hold the invaluable ancient ship landed from the semi-submersible barge and transported to the museum named Crystal Palace riding on 16 pieces marine airbags.

Marine airbags -Interview with Evergreen Maritime (3)

What was the most challenging mission your system has assisted with?

The most challenging mission we ever participated is the ancient ship named “Nanhai No.1” salvage project. That salvage project is called the most complicated and expensive one in China history.

The salvage project had been revised for 6 times and been demonstrated for 4 times during the preparing 4 years. At June 2006, the top 22 experts were collected to demonstrate the latest project which got approved after two days discussion. The spirit of salvage project is to build a large caisson to contain the ship and its surrounding then lift the caisson out of water and land by marine airbags.

The Nanhai No.1, weighs 2,800 tons under the water. When brought out of water, it will weigh some 4,800 tons. The caisson was brought out water and placed on a submerged barge then carried to a temporary port. All we need to do with marine airbags is land the caisson from the barge and move it to its final residence, a specially built museum named "crystal palace". The tides and droping off weights along with the caisson move to land make the barge’s working height and directions changed every time. We have to adjust the inner pressure of marine airbags placed under the saisson to redirect caisson to close the port or change the height of caisson bottom to reach the better condition for landing. On 12/25/2007 The first attempt to land the caisson was cancelled because of the violent wave when the caisson near the port 4 meters. During the next day’s floodtime, It took more than 3 hours to land the caisson on the temporary port successfully with 16 huge air bags. The left 365 meters from the temporary port to museum is comparative easier for air bag to carry the caisson to make it. On 12/28/2007, the caisson arrived its new home "crystal palace"and the mission of our company finished.

Experts said there were four cutting-edge tools ensure the success of this salavge project ,Evergreen marine airbag was one of them. Marine Airbag can offer the best protection to the ancient ship held in the caisson during the process of land and transportation. Its safety and flexibility was highly praised by experts and officers.

Is your company working on any new ideas for the future?

Yes. As we mentioned before ,marine airbag ship launching technology can not be used for ship side-launch now. We are working hard on improvement of marine airbags and new project designing for ship side-launch with marine airbags. We have two aims to achieve in the near future: one is enable ship side-launch with marine air bags,another one is to launch the DWT 100,000 ships with marine air bags.

How can we learn more about the product?
We think our website :http://www.evergreen-maritime.com is a good way to learn more about marine airbags. We have plenty of airbag ship launching/salavge cases presented in our website which are helpful for people to know about the product.

Marine airbags -Interview with Evergreen Maritime(2)

They look very similar to Yokohama Fenders, how do they differ?

The main use of Yokohama fenders and Evergreen marine airbags are definitely different. It is well known that Yokohoma fenders are used in effective fender system providing a soft and stable berthing condition to ships. And Evergreen airbags are widely used for ship launching,landing,heavy transport and air lifting. Due to the special use, structures of Evergreen airbags are optimize to heavy duty and safe. The surface layers are enhanced for anti-abrasion and pierce resistance ,even they are somewhat wounded Evergreen airbags can still work safely untill recoverd by repaire. The lengths of airbags are usually more than 10 meters and two cone-shaped ends make them look like huge sausages. And Evergreen air bags never use tyres and shackles.

What are the advantageous to using this system over traditional ship launching techniques?

Marine airbag ship launching system do not need the traditional fabricated slipways so it saves time,investment,land etc. Air bags need no more extra maintenance,after use they can be cleaned and folded in the corner to wait for another mission. It is easy to find that airbags’ elasticity can give more protection to the launched ship. The remarkable character of airbags is that they can change the working height to redirect the ship or any being launched object by adjusting their inner air pressure. For this character it is peerless campare to traditional ship launching techniques.

Are there other uses for this system?
Evergreen ship launching airbags are not only uesd for ship, floating dock,caisson launching but also on cutting edge in ship landing,heavy transport , marine salvage etc. It is a versatile tool for many marine applications.

Marine airbags -Interview with Evergreen Maritime (1)

What were the first uses of marine airbags in the launching of ships?
People can trace the history of airbag ship launching back to 1981 year,over 20 years ago. Xiao Qinghe ship repair and building shipyard,located in Jinan city of Shangdong Province, launched a 60 DWT tank barge with marine airbags on Janu. 20, 1981. Seven marine airbags were employed in that ship launching project,one is 2 meters in diameters and 6 meters long used for elevating and the left six air bags are 0.8 meter and 6 meters long act as the rollers. The initial intention of that ship launching trial is for warfare purpose to develop a prompt,less landform limited ship launching method.

How has the technology advanced since then?
During the past over twenty years, the marine airbag ship launching system make progress not only the airbag but also the ship launching/landing technology.
The first generation airbags use rubber dipped canvas as reinforcement layer , the trunk and two cone-shaped ends are made separatelly. People lapping rubber and dipped canvas to form the air chamber trunk and stick strips to molds to make the air bags’ ends ,then stick them together.
The latest marine airbags use the rubber dipped synthetic-tyre-cords as the reinforcement layers and take the whole-enlacing-technology for manufacture. The trunk and two cone-shaped ends are made at the same time and enlaced together so the whole air bags have no joints. Due to the development of rubber chemistry the performance of rubber employed in the latest air bag is highly enhanced also. The performance of the latest airbag is 15 times of the first generation one with the same specification.
Regarding the launching/landing technology, it developed most during the past 20 years. From the beginning, only small and flat bottom ship located in fabricated slope can be launched with air bags. And now this technology is more flexible and less limited by the ship and landform. Any type of ship DWT below 55,000 at a place with enough launching space to the water can be launched with air bags. And the launching slope even can be aclinic. The air bag ship landing technology developed from applications in some stranded ship salvage projects and then it comes into a cutting edge one especially useful for some marine emergencies.
http://www.evergreen-maritime.com

Malaysia says first submarine unable to dive

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's first submarine, a European-made Scorpene delivered last September, has developed problems that make it unfit for diving, the defence minister said Thursday.

The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman sailed into a grand reception last year as the first of two commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia for a total of 3.4 billion ringgit (961 million dollars).

Named after the country's first prime minister, it was hailed as an important acquisition despite opposition allegations of corruption in the deal.

"The submarine can still dive but when we detected the defects, we were advised that it should not dive," Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters.

"The (parts found with) defects are still under warranty so the supplier and contractor are repairing them," he added.

Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar said a problem first emerged in the submarine's cooling system last December. After being fixed, another defect was identified in a different system last month.

"We hope it can dive again after February 18 so we can carry out the tropical water trials," Abdul Aziz told reporters.

The navy chief said the second submarine, the KD Tun Razak which is named after the nation's second premier, is expected to arrive from France on May 31. It was originally scheduled for delivery in late 2009.

The two submarines have attracted controversy since the deal was signed in 2002.

Malaysia's opposition claims that a 540-million-ringgit commission was paid to a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak in brokering the contract.

Najib has denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was defence minister.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE,,,

DWT 58,000 Cargo Ship Launching with Evergreen Marine Airbags

On 1 Feb. 2010 Qingdao Eversafe Marine Engineering Company (www.eversafe-marine.com) flawlessly launched a DWT 58,000 cargo ship with Evergreen airbags in Zhejiang China and this launching project sets the new world record of airbag ship launching.
This cargo ship holds 11,800 tons is 199 meters long and 32 meter wide. It is built on a 0.87 degree concrete ramp whose end is a sluice gate. From the water gate to ship’s stern is 15 meters and the water beyond the gate is 8 meters deep. Total 76 pieces Evergreen airbags are employed to complete this project and also two 25 tons winches.
For big ship launched with marine airbags, the scientific design from calculation is vital for success. To ensure this DWT58, 000 cargo ship’s safe launching, there are two conditions must be satisfied first: avoiding the “bow decline” during the launch process and the rush distance is controllable when ship is after launch.
Evergreen experts are gathered to calculate the launching project of the largest ship ever be launched by marine airbags. From mathematic modeling to computer simulation every step of launching process are researched carefully. From the water level to weather variety most conditions are considered for the design. When settle the arrangement of marine airbags Evergreen engineers find the stern rope must be added to control the rush of ship after launch. So 4 stern ropes are demanded to fix on the bollard of a floating dock with 45 degree angle to the ship and the time of cast anchor is also stated.
At 31 Jan. Qingdao Evergreen Maritime completed the ship raise and most block remove work. At that time two winched pulled ship from slipping and the blocks under stern remained. The highest tide of 1 Feb. is estimated to occur at 10:30 AM, so launch time is decided to be 10 AM. At 9:30 am Evergreen team began to adjust the inner pressure of airbags at stern to be 0.12Mpa and then released the steel ropes from winches. At 9:50 airbags under gravity center and bow were inflated to be 0.15Mpa then the ship began to move slowly by riding rolling airbags. During the launch process the ship’s incline angle is increasing until the stern floated when the bow enters into deep water already. There is no “bow decline” phenomena occurred just as forecasted by calculation.
When ship advanced in the sea for a certain distance its bow anchors was casted and four stern ropes were trained. So ship moved sideways then it was pushed by two tug boats to mooring.
The success of DWT 58,000 ship launched with Evergreen airbags not only creates a world record of airbag ship launching but also means the airbag ship launching technology reaches a new altitude. Evergreen Maritime is devoted to the marine airbags’ manufacture and launching technology development for more than 10 years so he achieves today’s accomplishment.
Qingdao Evergreen Maritime is never satisfied and forever on the go.

Evergreen airbags successfully launched a 32,500DWT Bulk Carrier

On 16th.Jan.2010, the 32,500DWT Bulk Carrier “NO. 6 Dongze” was successfully launched by Evergreen ship launching team with Evergreen Marine Airbags in Nanjing Dongze Shipyard. It is the sixth ship launched by Qingdao Evergreen Maritime Company using airbag launching technology for this shipyard.
This Bulk Carrier with 210 meters length and 34 meters molded breadth weight 9,500 tons. January is the dry season of the Yangtze River Valley, so there is long distance between the stern with the tide point. Fortunately the launching slipway was initially constructed in the light of Evergreen team’s design, so the calculation of launching start point came to be easier. Finally the ship was moved forward about 30m to reach the best launching point by the control of mooring winches.
Total 64 pieces Evergreen Marine Airbags D1.5xEL18 (YT-6) were employed to launch this Bulk Carrier. And all airbags’ inner pressures were adjusted to the required value before the launch. After a simple ship launching ceremony, the workers cut off the wire ropes to release the ship. Then the Bulk Carrier went into river by riding marine airbags smoothly. Different from the traditional end-on ship launching, the “stern dipping” and “stern rising” phenomena are not obvious anymore during airbag ship launching.
Qingdao Evergreen Maritime is preparing another 55,000DWT vessel launching project which will be performed after three weeks. Keep an eye on our website www.evergreen-maritime.com to know the latest news.

Hydraulic burst test of Evergreen Marine Airbags

Hydraulic burst experiment is the ultimate test for the Marine Airbags’ performance, material, manufacturing technique and structure type. Meanwhile, Hydraulic burst test also can be used to confirm the safety working pressure. But, there hasn’t been any other manufacturers done this test with regular products because of the high cost and lacking of confidence of their airbags’ performance. Generally they employ a small size airbag to do the hydraulic burst experiment and then infer to all sizes.
At the request of research department of China Shipbuilding Industry for the amendment of CB/T3795, Evergreen-Maritime did this “Hydraulic burst test” with regular Evergreen Marine Airbags. As per the requirement of industry standard, we randomly selected three pieces D1.5xEL8m YT-6 type Evergreen Marine Airbags to do the bursting test orderly under the same condition.

The result is as follows:
For the first Marine Airbags, the Hydraulic bursting pressure is P1= 0.73 MPa
For the second Marine Airbags, the Hydraulic bursting pressure is P2=0.71Mpa
For the second Marine Airbags, the Hydraulic bursting pressure is P2=0.72Mpa
Thus, the average bursting pressure is P= (P1+P2+P3)/3= 0.72 Mpa.

Then we select the safety working factor 6 (the industrial standard demands this factor for 4.5)
Pe = P/n= 0.72 Mpa / 6= 0.12 Mpa

Thus, we define the “Safety Working Pressure” of YT-6 type Evergreen Marine Airbags with 1.5 m diameter as 0.12 Mpa. For airbags with other diameter sizes, we did the same Hydraulic burst experiments to define the safety working pressure data.
To get more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us by sales@evergreen-maritime.com

Indonesian shipyards

From nippon.zaidan.info

　
番号 設立年 社名 活動 住所 分類
1 1981 PT. BANDAR VICTORY SHIPYARD 鋼船の造船及び修繕、沖合い施設の修繕、船舶解体 Jl. Sekupang Raya Km2.Sekupang PMDN
2 1985 PT. SUPRACO indonesia 石油钻井, Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
3 1987 PT. BATAMAS JALA NUSANTARA 船舶建造、鉄骨組み立て、鉄骨処理、建設請負、メンテナンス、重機器の賃貸 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Tanjung Uncang

4 1988 PT. BATAMS INDAH SIMPAL SHIPYARD 船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Sekupang PMDN
5 1990 PT. KACABA MARGA MARINA 船舶の修繕及び船舶、タグボート、バージの建造 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
6 1990 PT. PALMA PROGRESS SHIPYARD 船舶の修繕、建造、解体、FRPボート Jl. Palma Kav 1, Sagulung PMDN
7 1991 PT. NUTRANS MARITIM SERVICE 船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
8 1991 PT. SENTOSA MULTI SHIPYARD バージの建造、船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
9 1992 PT. JAYA ASIATIC SHIPYARD バージの建造、船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Km6, Tanjung Uncang PMA
10 1993 PT. KUNANGAN MARINDO LAKSANA 船舶の修繕、バージ及びタグボートの建造、機械工場 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Km6, Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
11 1993 PT. NANINDAH MUTIARA SHIPYARD 船舶の修繕、建造、改造 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Tanjung Uncang PMA
12 1994 PT. PAN ISLAND SHIPYARD バージの建造、船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
13 1994 PT. PIONEER OFFSHORE ENTERPRISES SHIPYARD 沖合い施設の建設、船舶の修繕、バージの建造 Tanjung Uncang PMA
14 1995 PT. SHOPIDAK SHIPYARD 海運請負、沖合い鉄骨組み立て、配管 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
15 1995 PT. PANDAN BAHARI SHIPYARD バージの建造、船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Tanjung Uncang PMA
16 1996 PT. ASL SHIPYARD INDONESIA バージの建造、船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Tanjung Uncang PMA
17 1996 PT. WANAMAS PUSPITA バージの建造、船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
18 1996 PT. PAN JAYA バージの建造、鉄骨の建設、船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
19 1996 PT. TERAOKA BATAM バージの建造、船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
20 1996 PT. SHINTAI INDUSTRI SHIPYARD データなし Tanjung Uncang PMDN
21 1996 PT. SHIPINDO RAYA 船舶のドッキング及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMDN
22 1997 PT. JAN SANJAYA PUSAKA 船舶の修繕、鉄骨の建設 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
23 1997 PT. SEKIP HILIR SHIPYARD アルミニウム製旅客船、タグボート、ボントゥーン、船舶のドッキングおよび修繕 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
24 1997 PT. BATAM TANJUNG UNCANG SHIPYARD 船舶の修繕、バージの建造、海運請負、沖合い鉄骨建設 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
25 1997 PT. TRIKARYA ALAM 造船業 Tanjung Uncang PMA
26 1997 PT. PAN UNITED SHIPYARD INDONESIA 船舶の建造及び修繕 Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Tanjung Uncang PMA
27 1997 PT. DEV INTERNATIONAL SHIPBUILDER 船舶の建造及び修繕、舶用エンジン及び重機器の修繕及びメンテナンス Tanjung Uncang PMA
28 1997 PT. KARLY ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCT10N INDONESIA 鋼構造物の建設及び船舶の建造 Tanjung Uncang PMA
29 1997 PT. KUNANGAN ASIPAC MARINE 船舶の建造及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
30 1997 PT. PAN BATAM ISLAND SHIPYARD バージの建造及び船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
31 1998 PT. BANDAR SAMAK SAGULUNG 船舶の建造及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
32 1998 PT. FASECO BATAMARIN 船舶の建造、修繕、設計 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
33 1998 PT. TAKWINDO BATAM 船舶の修繕、バージ及び海洋機器の製造 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
34 1998 PT. SHL MARINA BATAM 船舶及びバージの修繕、エンジニアリング請負 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
35 1998 PT. GLORY UTAMA INDONESIA SHIPYARD バージの建造、船舶の建造及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
36 1999 PT. CESINDO NUSANTARA 船舶の建造請負 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
37 1999 PT. DUNIA MARINDO バージの修繕 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
38 1999 PT. ENSURE ENGINEERING バージの建造、鋼構造物の建設 Tanjung Uncang Non PMA/PMDN
39 1999 PT. ESPRIT ENGINEERING バージの建造及び船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
40 PT. BRITOIL OFFSHORE INDONESIA 船舶及びバージのドッキング及び修繕 Jl. Teuku Umar PMA
41 PT. LUO SHIPYARD バージの建造及び船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
42 PT. RIAU PAN JAYA バージの建造及び船舶の修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMA
43 PT. SABANG RAYA INDAH 船舶の建造及び修繕 Tanjung Uncang PMDN

Airbag Launching System Frees Ship From No-Fixture Ramp

Evergreen Shipping Supplies Co. Ltd. (Qingdao, China) recently announced that it successfully launched a new-build 20,000-deadweight-tonnage ship from a no-fixture ramp with its airbag launching system in Jiangsu province, China.

The 150-meter-long by 21.6-meter-wide cargo ship was built on a 200-meter-long concrete ramp without a fixture or anchor block. The angle of the concrete ramp was 0.86 of a degree. The inland river on which it sat was 350 meters wide with water depths of seven to 11 meters, and the distance between the ship stern and the end of the ramp was 15 meters. Because there was no anchor block on the ramp, no winch was available, Evergreen representatives said. The main challenges of the project were starting the ship launch and keeping the ship from slipping when moving it off the wooden blocks, they continued.

In a low tide period, the river was dredged and sandbags were placed to fill pits in the riverbed, Evergreen representatives explained. Thirty-four marine airbags 1.5 meters in diameter and 18 meters long were placed between wooden blocks according to a computer-simulated calculation, they continued. The airbags were inflated in such a way as to limit the ship’s slipping to a maximum of 0.57 of a degree when raised, Evergreen said.

Airbags were inflated from the stern to midship, one after the other, until the center of gravity was exceeded, Evergreen said, and further inflation from bow to midship lifted the entire ship. According to Evergreen, after all supporting wooden blocks were removed, airbags at the bow were deflated to adjust the ship’s gradient angle to 0.45 of a degree, which would make the ship safer from any unexpected slipping.

As the tide rose, airbags were inflated and deflated to keep the ship’s gradient angle at 0.57 of a degree, Evergreen said. An excavator grab, with its shovel wrapped in tires, was used to push the bow, the company said. After two pushes, the ship started to move slowly by riding the rolling airbags, and the movement was self-accelerated until the stern floated because of the ship’s increasing gradient angle, the company continued. It took 62 seconds from the start of the ship’s movement to total float, while the preparation took more than 12 hours, according to Evergreen.

The company said the main instruments of its airbag launching system are marine airbags, air compressors and regular winches. The sausage-shaped marine airbags are made up of rubber layers with rubber-dipped synthetic-tire-cords as reinforcement material. They have one to two-meter diameters and are six to 20 meters long. One marine airbag 1.5 meters in diameter and 18 meters long can hold more than 200 tons, Evergreen representatives said. For more information, visit http://www.evergreen-maritime.com.