How to do

Airbag ship docking means people haul out vessels to the land with pulling winches and rolling airbags. Comparing with traditional trolley docking method, This system has less demand of ramp/slipway and also the pulling winch.

Basic information for airbag docking system:

Ramp/slipway

1. For permanent launch/docking ramp, the concrete is preferred.

2. For temporary launch/docking, the ramp can be reinforced natural ground.

Winch plus pulley

1. Low speed electric winch with strong enough pulling force.

2. Multi-brake methods

3. Pulleys include travel and fixed pulleys

Marine Airbags

1. Six layers bags are suitable for most docking projects

2. Deflated bags can sink in water

3. Vessel bottoms need to be cleaned before the operation to protect airbags

4. Airbags can be arranged in two or three rows to support wide vessel

Assistant equipment for operation

1. Forklift and crane will be need to install winch and shift airbags

2. Air compressor, minimum demand ,2 CBM/minute flow rate, 8 bar inflating pressure

Airbag vessel docking procedure :

1. Fasten the vessel with guy ropes or cables attached firmly with the winch. Generally ship will need to be controlled by 4 ropes from 4 directions to ensure its precise landing spot.

2. Select a reasonable position near the bottom of bow to insert marine airbags which will act as the fulcrum for winch to move the ship. 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 vessel the bow lifting marine airbags should be inserted at the position where they can have bigger contact area with the bottom of vessel. Also, people may place airbags at appropriate positions at low tide and position the vessel upon marine airbags at high tide, and then inflate airbags to lift the vessel. People should make the vessel haul-out plan according to the 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. Pump marine airbags further to lift ship bottom higher, then insert the wooden stands and withdraw marine airbags.

In fact there are some artifices to overcome difficulties during the haul out process. To lift the bow by airbags at the beginning people can build sand hillocks to make airbags get more contact areas with the bow. And wedges may be used to help insert airbags. If ship is tilted , people may adjust airbags pressures to balance the ship. If the ship’s movement is deflected from center line, people can adjust the new inserted airbags’ directions to make ship back to center line.