Overview
ISO 17682:2013 - Ships and marine technology - Methodology for ship launching utilizing air bags - provides general guidelines and safe working practices for launching ships using inflatable air bags. The standard covers ship suitability, slipway and ground arrangements, air bag specification and testing, towing/windlass systems, step‑by‑step launching procedures, and required safeguards and documentation for a controlled launch operation.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Ship specification and suitability
- Ship must have a flat bottom and adequate bottom acreage for bearing on air bags.
- Ships are classified by weight/length into Class I–IV, with progressively stricter requirements for larger ships.
- Slipway requirements
- Slipway gradient/length determined by ship size and local hydrology.
- Minimum bearing capacity (at least twice the working pressure of air bags) and construction material requirements vary by ship class.
- Air bag requirements and arrangement
- Air bags must comply with ISO 14409 (ship launching air bags).
- Pre‑use leakage test: fill to 1.25× rated working pressure and hold for ≥1 hour.
- ISO 17682 provides spacing rules (e.g., L/(N–1) ≤ 6k and L/(N–1) ≥ πD/2 + 0.3) and sizing/quantity guidance based on ship weight, block coefficient, allowable bearing capacity and a safety coefficient.
- Towing and hauling arrangements
- Use a windlass and steel wire rope system secured to a ground anchor; steel ropes should meet ISO 2408.
- Typical windlass veering speed: 9–13 m/min. Safety factors for hauling equipment are specified (K ≈ 1.2–1.5).
- Calculations must account for rolling friction of air bags, ship trim angle, braking time and expected maximum tensile forces.
- Operational procedure and safeguards
- Mandatory documentation (arrangements, weight/CG, hydrostatic data, slipway bearing report, tide/current data).
- Stepwise procedure: place and inflate bags stern→bow, lift off docking blocks, equalize pressures, secure personnel, controlled release or windlass‑controlled glide into water, post‑launch inspections.
- Additional checks and special calculations required for Class IV ships (e.g., internal pressure variations during the launch).
Applications - who uses ISO 17682
- Shipyards and marine contractors planning or performing launches with air bags
- Naval architects and marine engineers calculating bag arrangements, loads and towing forces
- Classification societies and shipowners for approval and inspection criteria
- Procurement and safety managers for specifying equipment, procedures and risk controls
ISO 17682 is practical for improving safety, reducing launch risk, and standardizing air bag launching methods in diverse shipbuilding and repair contexts.
Related standards
- ISO 14409:2011 - Ships and marine technology - Ship launching air bags (normative reference)
- ISO 2408 - Steel wire ropes for general purposes - Minimum requirements
Keywords: ISO 17682, ship launching, air bags, slipway, windlass, towing arrangement, shipyard, launching procedure, maritime safety.
