Why This Matters – A Real-World Wake-Up Call 🌊
Imagine your boat suddenly stranded in shallow water, or worse, a sunken vessel under calm seas. Traditional cranes and barges often come with high costs and long wait times. That’s why floating airbags—like the ones Sunhelm provides—offer a smarter, faster solution. When time and money matter, these inflatable tools help lift and refloat vessels, support pipelines, and handle emergency recovery—all without needing bulky equipment.
What Are Floating Airbags (Marine Salvage Airbags)?
Floating airbags are inflatable rubber devices that provide buoyancy to lift submerged objects. Technicians usually use them during marine salvage, ship launching, and underwater lifting. Each airbag includes thick rubber layers reinforced with nylon or tire-cord fabric. These airbags come with strong straps, shackles, and safety valves, making them safe and durable in tough environments.
How Do Floating Airbags Work?
Operators place the airbags beneath or alongside a sunken or heavy object and inflate them to generate buoyancy. As air fills the bag, the upward force lifts the object. Safety valves manage the internal pressure, preventing over-inflation and ensuring a controlled ascent.
Moreover, engineers can connect multiple airbags to increase lifting capacity and balance. This technique proves especially useful in large-scale refloating tasks such as ships or heavy underwater structures.
Advantages of Using Floating Airbags
- Speed and efficiency: You can deploy and lift in a short time without heavy cranes.
- Flexibility: Since airbags are portable, teams can use them in remote areas or tight spaces.
- Safety: The design includes burst-resistant materials and built-in pressure control systems.
- Scalability: Users can select airbags based on the exact buoyancy required, from 50 to 300+ tons.
How to Secure Floating Airbags to the Load
Attaching airbags properly is crucial for a safe and successful lift. Here’s how Sunhelm recommends doing it:
- Place the airbags correctly: Divers or technicians slide deflated airbags under or beside the object.
- Use lifting straps: These straps go around the airbag and attach to strong points on the object.
- Connect shackles: Technicians link each lifting point using rated shackles for strength and safety.
- Tighten the rigging: The lifting bands must stay secure to prevent the airbag from shifting during inflation.
- Monitor alignment: During inflation, operators ensure that airbags lift evenly to avoid tilting or rolling.
By following these steps, the team ensures a safe, well-balanced lift in various marine environments.
Floating Airbags vs. Other Buoyancy Tools
| Feature | Floating Airbags | PVC Lift Bags |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Multi-layer tire-cord rubber resists abrasion | PVC is thinner and easier to puncture |
| Pressure control | Includes safety valves for high-pressure tasks | Not ideal for deep water or high pressure |
| Safety Factor | Rated lifting straps with 6:1 safety margin | Often lacks redundant safety features |
Why It’s Urgent to Use the Right Solution
Delays in marine recovery or construction can lead to huge financial losses. For example, a stranded barge blocking a channel can stop port operations for days. In these cases, quick and safe lifting becomes essential. Therefore, choosing the right buoyancy tool—like Sunhelm’s marine airbags—helps reduce downtime and protect your assets.
People Also Ask (Related Questions)
• How deep can you use floating airbags?
You can safely use marine salvage airbags in deep water, as long as they include pressure-rated valves and reinforced bodies.
• Can I use more than one airbag at the same time?
Yes, operators often use multiple airbags together for lifting heavy or long objects. The setup provides balance and strength.
• What lifting capacity do these airbags support?
Each airbag supports between 50 and 300+ tons, depending on size and construction.
• How long do floating airbags last?
With proper care, Sunhelm’s airbags can last for years, even in demanding conditions.
Contact Sunhelm for Reliable Floating Airbags
Whether you need to raise a sunken ship or support an underwater project, Sunhelm offers professional marine airbags with tested reliability. Our airbags include reinforced rubber bodies, lifting straps, and safety systems—ready for your most critical operations.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your project needs and request a quote!