About Luhang & Company
Q. Who is Qingdao Luhang Marine Airbag and Fender Co., Ltd?
A. Qingdao Luhang Marine Airbag and Fender Co., Ltd. is a world-leading manufacturer of marine airbags, pneumatic rubber fenders, foam-filled fenders, dock fenders, and marine buoys. Established as a pioneer in the marine equipment industry, Luhang provides integrated manufacturing, custom engineering, and global supply for shipyards, ports, offshore platforms, and naval projects worldwide.
Q. How long has Luhang been manufacturing marine airbags and fenders?
A.Luhang possesses over thirty years of professional manufacturing experience in the field of marine airbags and fenders. As a pioneer in China's marine airbag and fender industry, Luhang has consistently led the way in technological R&D, manufacturing standards, and global commercial applications.
Q. Where is the Luhang factory located?
A.Our factory is located in Jidong Industrial Park, Dianji Town, Jimo, Qingdao, China
Marine Airbags / Ship Launching Airbags
Q. What is a marine airbag / ship launching airbag?
A. A marine airbag (also known as a ship launching airbag) is a heavy-duty, high-strength cylindrical rubber air-structure reinforced with synthetic-tire-cord layers. It is engineered to support, lift, and roll heavy vessels (up to tens of thousands of DWT) into or out of the water, as well as for caisson launching, heavy transport, and underwater salvage.
Q. What standard are Luhang ship launching airbags manufactured to?
A. Luhang ship launching airbags are manufactured and tested in full compliance with ISO 14409:2011 (Ships and marine technology - Ship launching airbags).
Q. What sizes of marine airbags does Luhang produce?
A.· Diameter (D): Standard sizes from 0.8m to 2.5m (custom sizes up to 3.0m available).
· Effective Length (L): From 5m up to 25m+.
· Layers: 3 to 12 synthetic-tire-cord layers depending on the required working pressure and load-bearing capacity.
Q. What is the working pressure of a marine airbag?
A. Working pressure typically ranges from 0.05 MPa to 0.25 MPa, depending on the airbag's diameter and number of cord layers. Each airbag undergoes stringent burst-pressure tests, maintaining a safety factor of at least 4.5 times the working pressure.
Q. How much weight can a ship launching airbag support?
A. Individual load capacity depends on diameter, internal working pressure, contact area, and working height (such as 0.3D working height). A single high-layer Luhang marine airbag can support 300 to 400+ metric tons. Combined airbag arrays can safely launch vessels up to 100,000 DWT.
Q. What is the service life of a marine airbag?
A. Under standard operation, maintenance, and storage conditions, Luhang marine airbags have a service life of 8 to 10 years.
Q. Can marine airbags be used for hauling out (landing) ships, not just launching?
A. Yes. Luhang airbags are widely used for both ship launching and ship haul-out (dry-docking/landing) for repair and maintenance, eliminating the need for expensive dry docks or slipway infrastructure.
Q. Can damaged marine airbags be repaired?
A. Yes. Minor surface punctures, cuts, or abrasion damage can be safely repaired using hot vulcanization patch kits. Luhang provides professional repair kits, vulcanization tools, and technical guidelines.
Q. What is the difference between launching airbags and salvage air lift bags?
A. ·Ship Launching Airbags: Heavy-duty, high-pressure cylindrical rollers designed for rolling heavy structures on land/slipways.
·Salvage Air Lift Bags: Specially designed with underwater buoyancy control, attachment points, and relief valves to lift submerged shipwrecks, sunken objects, or pipelines.
Pneumatic Rubber Fenders (Yokohama Type)
Q. What is a pneumatic rubber fender (Yokohama fender)?
A. Pneumatic rubber fender (Yokohama type ) is an anti-collision bumper system that uses compressed air as a cushioning medium to absorb impact energy during ship-to-ship (STS) transfers, ship-to-dock (STD) berthing, and mooring operations.
Q. What standard are Luhang pneumatic fenders manufactured to?
A. Luhang pneumatic fenders fully comply with the international quality standard ISO 17357-1:2014 (High pressure Floating pneumatic rubber fenders).
Q. What initial pressure options are available for pneumatic fenders?
A .Pneumatic 50 (50 kPa / 0.5 bar initial pressure)
Pneumatic 80 (80 kPa / 0.8 bar initial pressure)
Q. What types of protective covers are available for pneumatic fenders?
A. Chain-Tire-Net (CTN) Type: Encased in a heavy-duty net of chains, shackles, and rubber tires (or aircraft tires) for maximum durability and abrasion resistance.
Sling Type: Standard fender without a tire/chain net, featuring towing rings at both ends for flexible installation and lighter weight.
Q. How often should pneumatic fenders be inspected and re-inflated?
A.Internal pressure should be inspected every 3 to 6 months. If the pressure drops below the recommended working level, re-inflate using standard pneumatic air filling valves.
Q. What happens if a pneumatic fender is punctured?
A. Due to high-strength synthetic cord reinforcement, sudden catastrophic bursting is extremely rare. In case of a puncture, the air slowly leaks out. The fender can be repaired on-site using standard vulcanization patches and re-inflated.
Foam Filled Fenders
Q. What is a foam filled fender?
A.A foam-filled fender is a floating solid fender system featuring a closed-cell EVA foam core covered by an inner resilient layer and an outer protective polyurethane (SPUA) elastomer skin.
Q. What is the difference between a foam filled fender and a pneumatic fender?
A. Foam Filled Fender: Solid EVA foam core. Unsinkable, virtually maintenance-free, zero risk of deflation even if punctured.
Pneumatic Fender: Filled with compressed air. Highly cost-effective and easy to deflate for transport and storage.
Q. Why choose a foam filled fender?
A. Foam-filled fenders offer high energy absorption with low reaction force, maintaining 100% functionality even if severe skin damage occurs. They are ideal for harsh environments, military/naval berths, extreme weather conditions, and high-frequency ship-to-ship transfers.
Dock Rubber Fenders
Q. What types of dock rubber fenders does Luhang supply?
ASuper Cone Fenders
Super Cell Fenders
Arch / V Fenders
Cylindrical Fenders
D Fenders & Square Fenders
Q. How do I choose the right dock rubber fender?
A. Selection depends on vessel displacement, berthing speed, max allowable reaction force, tidal variations, wharf structure, and environmental energy absorption requirements. Luhang's engineering team provides customized berthing calculations and selection recommendations.
Q. Can dock rubber fenders be used in seawater and exposed environments?
A. Luhang dock fenders are formulated with high-grade natural and synthetic rubber compounds, offering superior resistance to seawater corrosion, ozone, UV radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations, and marine growth.
Sea Buoys & Navigation Marks
Q. What sea buoys and navigation marks does Luhang produce?
A. Mooring Buoys
Surface Anchor Buoys
EVA Foam-Filled Navigation Buoys
Pick-up & Support Buoys
Subsea Buoyancy Modules
Q. What is a mooring buoy?
A.A mooring buoy is a floating marine structure anchored to the seabed, designed to hold ships, offshore supply vessels, or oil tankers securely in deep water without using the vessel's own anchor system.
Selection & Sizing Guidance
Q. How do I choose the correct marine airbag size for my ship?
A. Vessel Length (LOA), Beam, and Light Displacement Weight
Launching slipway angle, soil/concrete conditions, and water depth.
Airbag working height (usually calculated around 0.3D) and required lifting tonnage per meter.
Q. How many marine airbags do I need for a ship launching project?
A. Airbag quantity (N) is determined by vessel light displacement, required load distribution, and safety factors. Luhang provides full project calculation models and airbag layout plans for clients.
Q. How do I select the correct pneumatic fender for my port or vessel?
A. Selection is calculated based on the maximum berthing energy (E), vessel displacement (DWT), approach velocity, wind/wave conditions, and allowable wall pressure on the hull or jetty structure.
Quality, Standards & Certification
Q. What certifications do Luhang marine airbags and fenders hold?
A. Luhang holds ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management, ISO 14001, and ISO 4501 certifications. Products are regularly inspected and certified by major international classification societies, including DNV, ABS, BV, CCS, LR, and GL.
Q. What international standards do your products comply with?
A. Pneumatic Fenders: ISO 17357-1:2014
Marine Airbags: ISO 14401 / CB/T 3795
Water-Filled Load Test Bags: Compliant with LEEA 051 standards.
Q. Are Luhang products suitable for navy and submarine applications?
A. Yes. Luhang manufactures non-marking grey fenders, specialized submarine fenders (hydro-pneumatic fenders with ballast systems), and custom high-durability buoys for naval and defense projects.
Ordering, Pricing & Delivery
Q. What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
A.he MOQ is 1 unit for standard marine airbags, pneumatic fenders, foam fenders, and buoys.
Q. What is the delivery time for marine airbags and fenders?
A. Standard sizes in stock: 3 – 7 days.
Custom bulk orders / large fenders: 15 – 30 days depending on production specifications.
Q. Do you offer factory-direct prices and OEM service?
A. Yes. As a direct manufacturer, Luhang provides factory-direct competitive pricing, custom branding/color options, and full OEM/ODM engineering services.
Q. How are marine airbags and fenders packaged and shipped?
A. Pneumatic Fenders & Airbags: Deflated and folded onto pallets, steel frames, or LCL/FCL containers to minimize volume and international shipping freight costs.
Foam Fenders & Buoys: Wrapped in protective film and strapped for secure containerized transport.
Installation, Maintenance & Warranty
Q. What warranty does Luhang provide?
A.1 year
Q. Do you provide installation and on-site technical support?
A. Yes. Luhang offers on-site technical support, sending experienced marine engineers to assist with vessel launching operations, fender installation, or dock setup worldwide.
Q. How should marine airbags be stored when not in use?
A. Wash with fresh water, dry thoroughly, sprinkle with talcum powder, and store deflated in a cool, dry, ventilated warehouse away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and chemical solvents.
Q. What is the safety factor of Luhang marine airbags?
A. Luhang marine airbags are engineered with a strict safety factor of 4.5 to 5.0 times the rated working pressure, preventing accidental bursts under peak load conditions.
Q. Can Luhang customize products to my specifications?
A. Yes. Custom dimensions, rubber formulations, internal pressure ratings, cover designs, flange connections, and color options (e.g., black, grey, orange) are fully supported.
Q. What are the applications of marine airbags beyond ship launching?
A. Caisson lifting and moving
Heavy structure/bridge transport
Underwater pipe lay support & buoyant lifting
Sunken vessel salvage and floatation
Temporary floating piers and barrier supports
Q. How can I get a quote for marine airbags or fenders?
A.You can request an instant quote by contacting our sales engineering team via email, telephone, or directly through our website contact form. Please provide product dimensions, required pressure, quantity, and destination port for an accurate quotation.
sale@luhanggroup.com
Q.What payment methods does Luhang accept?
A. Luhang supports various flexible international payment methods, including:
T/T (Telegraphic Transfer): Standard advance deposit and balance payment against Bill of Lading (B/L) copy.
Western Union / PayPal: Available for small sample orders, spare parts, or emergency repair kits.
Q.What trade terms (Incoterms) do you support?
A.We support all standard Incoterms to match your logistics preference, including FOB (Qingdao Port), CIF / CFR (Destination Port), EXW (Ex-Works factory price), and DDP / DDU (Door-to-door delivery with taxes/duties options).
Q. Do you provide Third-Party Inspection (TPI) before shipment?
A. Yes. We welcome and facilitate third-party quality inspections prior to dispatch. We regularly work with international inspection agencies such as SGS, BV, DNV, ABS, and Lloyd's Register (LR) to issue factory acceptance and load testing reports upon request.
Q. How do you ensure product quality before leaving the factory?
A. Every Luhang product undergoes rigorous internal quality control procedures before shipment:
Airbags: 100% 24-hour air tightness testing, static load capacity testing, and burst pressure testing
Pneumatic Fenders: Hydrostatic pressure test, air-tightness test, and energy absorption/reaction force verification according to ISO 17357 standards.
Q. What accessories and inflation tools are included with pneumatic fenders or airbags?
A. Each order of pneumatic fenders or airbags can be equipped with essential accessories upon request, including:
- High-pressure inflation valves and pressure gauges
- Air hose adapters and quick-connect fittings
- Replacement shackles, chains, and swivel rings for pneumatic fender nets
- Hot/cold vulcanization repair materials and instruction manuals