On Nov. 26 ,2010 SINOPEC successfully launched his biggest pipelaying barge using airbag ship launching technology in Shenli oilfield construction base. The 14,500 tons pipelaying barge named “ shengli 902” measures 118 meters in total length and 30.4 meters in moulded width. It is designed to lay maximum 1540 mm diameter pipe at 100 meters deep water which is said to be the most advanced one in SINOPEC.
This pipelaying barge was ordered urgently and the hull delivery time is only six months. At that time there was only one 150 meters long concrete ramp available in the construction base. Evergreen Maritime was invited by the construction company for the feasibility research of airbag ship launch for this barge. When got positive conclusion, the construction company signed construction contract.
Evergreen Maritime as the launch contractor did lots of preparation work for this launch project. Main disadvantageous conditions for the launch are the shallow water level and narrow launch area. With the help from design department of construction company, Evergreen technical team designed the launch plan which employ ballast water to adjust the barge’s inclination and attached ropes to the stern to turn vessel around.
At 8 AM of Nov. 26, the Sacrifice Sea ceremony was hold on in the construction base. All the people involved in this project gathered to the platform to make a bow to the mother sea. At 8:30 AM the fireworks resounded across the sky and the launch started. When the pulling ropes released the barge started slowly with the rolling airbags and entered into water smoothly. Airbags jumped onto the water surface from the bottom of vessel bow like piquant fishes which aroused excited screams from watching crowd.
Total 67 pieces Evergreen marine airbags were used to launch the barge. All airbags executed good works during the launch. Evergreen Maritime is devoted to the manufacture of ship launching airbags and marine fenders and makes his distribution to the airbag ship launching technology. His subsidiary engineering company, Eversafe marine, is the first professional global contractor of airbag launch projects and get a very good track record.
Marine airbag ship launching can help shipbuilding company to do a better work with less money. That is why it is so popular around the world.
(Related News from SINOPEC)
