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.