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TEKNIK, 41 (3), 2020, 225-231

Technical and Economic Analysis of Ship Launching with Slipway

and Airbag KM. Sabuk Nusantara 72
in PT. Janata Marina Indah Shipyard Semarang

Sunarso Sugeng1*, Mohammad Ridwan1, Suharto2, Samuel Febriary Khristyson3

1
STr Programs Marine Engineering and Construction Technology, Department of Industrial Technology, Vocational
School, Diponegoro University,
Jl. Prof. Soedarto, SH, Kampus Undip Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275
2
D3 Programs Ship Design and Construction Technology, Department of Industrial Technology, Vocational School,
Diponegoro University
Jl. Prof. Soedarto, SH, Kampus Undip Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University
Jl. Prof. Soedarto, SH, Kampus Undip Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275

Abstract
In a ship, planning can not be separated from the planning of the ship launching process. A ship can
perfectly glide if it has high enough planning time and costs. The launch process itself is divided into
several ways. The choice of this method needs to be considered because it relates to the budget and
preparations made. The method used is the calculation according to the numerical approach assisted by
computational software. The first calculation is planned with the slipway launch, and then the next one is
planned with the airbags that have been implemented previously. This study aims to provide analysis
results as a consideration in implementing the slipway and airbag ship launching method on KM Sabuk
Nusantara 72 measuring 2000 DWT. In steps 5 to 6, both the slipway and the airbags experience a stern
lift condition with a value (yVd) of 1396.97 tons. Based on the economic analysis of people's hours using
airbags, there is a decrease in working hours by 44% compared to the launch using a slipway. This also
happened to work productivity, where it was 84% more time effective. When viewed from an investment
point of view, slipways are more economical than an airbag. The difference is 43% more economical
using slipways. Both types of a launch can be applied by looking at the economic side and the ability of
each shipyard in carrying out the launching process and seeing the main size of the ship to be launched.

Keywords: technical and economic analysis; ship launching; slipway; airbag; KM. Sabuk Nusantara 72

1. Introduction allows greater than the bow. The ship launching process
In a ship, planning can not be separated from the requires a substantial investment to plan the launch area
planning of the ship launching process. A ship can perfectly (Fitriadhy & Malek, 2017; Irawanto et al., 2019). As with
glide if it has high enough planning time and costs (Ye, the slipway system, a relatively expensive initial
1994). The launch process itself is divided into several investment will be required to construct a skate structure
ways. This method's choice needs to be considered because with the track (Xiao et al., 2020). From this phenomenon,
it is related to the budget and the preparations made. In innovative technology is considered more practical. It has
general, there are several systems for ship launching high economic value for a more flexible, safe, and reliable
(Fitriadhy & Malek, 2017). Among them is the launching ship launching with no embedded assets, minimum
system is the end launching system. This system is a maintenance, namely by using the airbag launching
method of launching with the stern of the ship touching the method, see Figure 1.
surface of the water first. The consideration in launching Previous research has shown that there have not
with this method is the buoyancy and drag force, which been many investigations on slipway and airbag launching
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methods comparison. There are still a few references on
*)
both methods comparison (Fitriadhy & Malek, 2017;
Corresponding author Irawanto et al., 2019). In previous research, there are actual
E-mail: [email protected] conditions in the field. However, it is challenging to predict

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 TEKNIK, 41 (3), 2020, 226

less than ideal (Ianagui & Tannuri, 2015; Thomas et

al., 2009). The previous research, entitled "A recovery
system for the key components of the first stage of a
heavy launch vehicle," by Casper Dek, presents a
comparative calculation of the launch diagram between
conventional and airbag systems. The analysis results
show that the float-off time is faster between the airbag
system than conventional launches (Dek et al., 2020).
Besides, a study entitled "experimental study of ship
launching using airbags" by Irwanto compares launch
calculations with DGPS measurements and video
recording results. The analysis results show that the
Figure 1. Ship launching with airbags
value is quite significant, especially in the projection of
the position of the stopping of the ship due to
ship behavior when launched using airbags, critical uncertainties related to water resistance (Irawanto et al.,
conditions that occur at launch need to be analyzed to 2019). Compared to the graving dock launching method,
determine the standard flow of safety criteria in the ship this method has the advantage of lower initial
launching method (Song et al., 2020). investment costs. However, in terms of the ship's safety
In his research entitled "A hierarchical updating and comfort, the launching process is safer using a
method for finite element model of airbag buffer graving dock.
system under landing impact", Huan He claimed the On the other hand, the shipyard location also
advantage of airbags use compared to slipways. He represents the capacity and capability of the shipyard in
stated that there is about a 41% man-hours reduction. planning the type of launch that can be applied. The
On the other side, investment costs are 37% lower than mechanical launch method, namely by using a crane or
the slipway. Based on this data, it can be seen that the syncrolift dock, requires a large area and calm and
analysis of man-hours results in a 69% increase in comfortable waters. Meanwhile, the floating dock type
productivity in the use of airbags for docking and requires a floating media in the form of a floating
undocking activities (He et al., 2015). However, pontoon device of a certain size with a capacity capable
according to Mann's research entitled "The KwaZulu- of providing a greater carrying capacity than the DWT
Natal Boat Launch Site Monitoring System: A novel of the ship to be launched. The slipway and airbag
approach for improved management of small vessels in launching method is still the main means used in many
the coastal zone," ship launching using airbags has a shipyards in Indonesia, apart from the contour of the
potential risk of ship launch failure (Mann et al., shipyard layout and from an economic point of view.
2015). There is a form of failure that occurs, such as an The method comparison of this research is
airbag erupting, resulting in the ship's overturning in technical and economic analysis. This research's
the launching process. To reduce the launch failure problem limitation is the waters, which are assumed to
risk, analysis is necessary for the form of technical and be at the highest tide of the month. The economic
economic studies (Fitriadhy & Malek, 2017; Irawanto analysis considered is the launch implementation cost.
et al., 2019). The need for a more in-depth analysis to However, the resistance of waves from seawater or the
support the success of the launching process and ship vibrations that arise in the ship launching process,
safety related to the success in the launching process calculations, and illustrations of the launch using the
and ship safety (Yamagami et al., 2006). The device computer software was not taken into account.
replacement of the skate construction that is fixed The purpose of this study is to provide analysis results
(fixed) into the airbag, which has a rotational/rolling as a consideration in implementing the slipway and
movement, gives a dynamic effect that needs to be airbag ship launching method on KM. Sabuk Nusantara
controlled (Senjanović et al., 2020). So that in its 72 2000 DWT.
application in the field, there is a standard that can be
used and is not based on experimental experience 2. Materials and Methods
(Thomas et al., 2009). Basically, the ship to be In this study, the ship used was KM. Sabuk
launched has a cost that is quite expensive, so the Nusantara 72 with the main sizes, as can be seen in table
launching process based on experimental experience 1. A model is then made using a computer device
needs to be minimized. What is of concern in the (Computer-Aided Design) and depicted in a step
launching process is the ship's radio to be launched condition of the launch period to make it easier to
where the ratio of length to width is small, the measure calculations.
conditions of the launch pad and water conditions are

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 TEKNIK, 41 (3), 2020, 227

Table 1. Main Size of the Ship

Description Score Unit
LOA (Length of Over All) 68.5 meter
LBP (Length between
63.00 meter
Perpendicular)
B (Bearth) 14.00 meter
H (Hight) 6.20 meter
T (Draught) 3.50 meter
DWT 2000 Ton
Figure 2. Bonjean curve measurement
The method used is the calculation according to
Buoyancy is the main component used by the
the numerical approach assisted by computational
ship to exert a buoyant force opposite the gravitational
software. The first calculation interval is planned with
force. It experiences a stern lift, which is lifting the
the slipway launch, and then the next one is planned
stern when it enters the third period in a ship's
with the airbags that have been implemented
launcher. This buoyancy (YV) is obtained by
previously. The calculation results can be grouped in a
calculating the Simpson theory on the ship's Bonjean
table. The result was also drawn into a diagram for an
curve, which is in the submerged part of the ship
easier read and technical analysis. The data provided
(Tupper, 2013)]. Meanwhile, d value is obtained from
includes the period of stern lift and economic steps and
the distance of the floating-point to the end of the
the cost of carrying out the ship launching in each type
foundation. The buoyancy that occurs is a wide area of
of launch. The launch weight calculation refers to the
the ship's wet plane. Wet areas can be assumed to have
ship's steel weight when the ship is empty or often
an upward buoyancy. The way to calculate the Bonjean
referred to as LWT (Leight Weight Tonnage).
curve volume is to measure the diagonal line that
Assuming the launch weight is a combination of the
intersects the ordinate line and the ship's area line, as
empty ship's weight with the weight of the launch
can be seen Figure 2. The following is a representation
equipment. The Formula 1, 2 and 3 are used for
of the YVd calculation.
determining launch weight.
The exact distance will depend on the ship's
beam and the arrangement of the slipway structure.
(1) The designer shall be able to ensure that load can be
transmitted safely between the base and hull of the ship
Where Wp is the launch weight in tons, and LWT through the launching shoe. Since the ship's shape
is the shipping weight consisting of the weight of steel, greatly influenced the planning of the runway, the
the construction weight of the ship is in tons. Then to get section of the skate closest to the bow and stern was
the Pc price, the Launch Weight (P) is multiplied by the probably quite high. The load held by them should be
distance from the center of gravity to the ramp's end. calculated carefully and maybe around 20% of the total
weight. The skates are secured to a ship before
(2) launching. Therefore, grease can be inserted between
the skates and the launch pad. This guard also holds the
Pc's value is in (ton meter), while for c is the launch shoes as the ship moves down the runway, thus
distance from the center of gravity to the end of the land preventing them from falling and damaging the ship's
(meters), and P is the tonne. The approach to the underside. The skate is a wooden beam that is
mathematical formula for the value of c is: generally used as the hull base on the launch rail. The
length of the skates (S) 80% - 90% of the length of the
(3) ship (Lpp) (Tupper, 2013)], Meanwhile, from the
maximum pressure limit, the minimum width of the
The value of c is the distance from the center of launching shoe can be found by using the Formula 4
gravity to the end of the land (meters). S is the length of approach.
the skating platform (meters), while h is the distance
from the tip of the ship to the last runway (meters), g is
(4)
the distance of the ship's center of gravity to the stern
end of the ship (Tupper, 2013).

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 TEKNIK, 41 (3), 2020, 228

Where b is the maximum acceptable width in capacity for each tank on the ship, including if the ship
meters, Wp is the launch weight (tonnes), n is the is empty, see Figure 4.
number of skates planned, S is the length of the launch After modeling the tank capacity and weight of
pad (meters), and is the average maximum stress the tank are calculated, if not with the tank, the weight
that can be accepted by the launch shoes (ton/m). On the of the ship is 976.9 tonnes. This is the weight of the
other hand, the maximum height of the launching shoes empty vessel, including the construction weight and
are adjusted to the distance capacity of the people the shell steel plate. So that by using the launch
working under them (conditions in the field). calculation formula, results are obtained, see Table 2:
The airbag is a pneumatic balloon in a In calculating the launch with airbags, drawing
cylinder's shape with an extension containing synthetic was previously carried out with CAD (Computer Aided
wire like any other tire, as can be seen figure 3. The Design) to represent the scenario or condition of the
combination of these components has the strength to ship when it was launched with airbags, see figure 5.
withstand loads well to work in all conditions (dry or The number of airbags used in the launching process is
wet conditions). Ideally, airbags will distribute the stress 12 units, with each planned installation is 3 - 4 meters
due to the ship's load (Yu et al., 2015),14]. In the end, away. This description can be used to calculate how
there is an end fitting. much the ship's buoyancy (yVd) is on the part of the
The specifications of the airbags used were 0,8 – 2 ship immersed in water (shaded blue). It can also be
m for diameter (D), 6 -18 m for effective length, and 7 used to measure the distance of the longitudinal center
– 19,5 m for total length. of gravity of the ship (LCG) to the end of the ship's
runway, as well as the distance of buoyancy.
3. Results and Discussions Longitudinal/LCB (Longitudinal Center of Buoyancy)
Technical analysis can be started by calculating against the end of the runway. Using the Simpson
the weight of the ship using computer software, formula approach, the following calculations are
modeling the ship to determine the distance of the tank carried out, using slipway steps 5 to 6 from the
and the location of the tank (Yu et al., 2015)]. From measurement results of the Bonjean curve, the
the model that has been made, we can analyze the following data are obtained, see Table 3.

Table 2. The calculation results

Planning Result Unit
Wp 1074,59 ton
Pc 29800,33 ton.m
S 92,7 m
Launch shoes (15 units) 38 x 30 x 32 cm
The slope of the runway 3,180 degrees

Table 3. The measurement result of the Bonjean curve

Figure 3. Airbag structure Station Luas(A) s Axs N AxsxN
Ap 0.000 1 0.00 10 0.00
1 0.413 4 1.65 9 14.87
2 3.976 2 7.95 8 63.62
3 6.742 4 26.97 7 188.78
4 8.026 2 16.05 6 96.31
5 7.904 4 31.62 5 158.08
6 6.695 2 13.39 4 53.56
7 5.276 4 21.10 3 63.31
8 3.652 2 7.30 2 14.61
9 1.831 4 7.32 1 7.32
10 0.000 1 0.00 0 0.00
S1= 133.36 S2= 660.46

Dislacement = 1/3 x d xS1 3

= 140.030 m
Figure 4. Model of the KM Sabuk Nusantara 72 LCB = S2 / S1x d
Ship = 15.600 m

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 TEKNIK, 41 (3), 2020, 229

Figure 5. Schematic of the ship launching process with airbags

Figure 6. Comparison of Stern lift Charts Slipway and airbag launches

So that yVd is the multiplication between the because the amount of buoyancy on the ship is faster on
displacement and the distance of the buoyancy points in the airbag than the slipway, see Figure 6. The graph
that step, the value is 1396.97 ton.m. The calculation is showed that the buoyancy condition of each loaded
also carried out on the airbag launching method to vessel that is immersed in the water. There is a
obtain the same displacement value. However, the time significant value increase in steps 5 to 6. Both the
for the ship to experience a stern lift is faster. slipway and the airbag experience a stern lift condition
Mathematical calculations using the software with a value of 1396.97 ton.m. When submerged in
result in a comparison of the launch diagram. It showed water, the maximum value of the vessel is 3.39 meters,
that the stern lift step or the start of the stern lifting where the maximum value of buoyancy is 2107.20 tons.

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 TEKNIK, 41 (3), 2020, 230

Furthermore, in steps 8 to 10, both ways of gradually of buoyancy then decreases along with the ship-laden
decreasing the buoyancy force, which is 300 ton.m, to condition, which becomes a keel event.
the last laden condition of the ship, which is 1.7 meters Both launch types can be applied by looking at
with a buoyancy of 1456.88 tonnes. the economic side and each shipyard's ability to carry
Economic analysis can be calculated based on out the launching process and see its main size. If it
the amount of cost required to plan this launch based on applies to slipway launches, the initial investment will
surveys and data collection at the shipyard (Yu et al., be more significant. However, along with the increase in
2015)]. From the cost comparison, it can be seen that 3 ship production, this will soon be covered more
parameters are used as references in this economic precisely in large-class shipyards with advanced
analysis. See Table 4. technology and sufficient outside areas. Suppose this is
From these results, it can be ascertained that applied to the launch of airbags. In that case, the initial
each selection of the launching method has advantages investment costs will be smaller with a small production
and disadvantages in terms of investment costs and capacity, meaning that it will be appropriate for small
people working hours. So that in planning a ship and medium-class shipyards.
launching method, it is necessary to consider from the
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doi: 10.14710/teknik.v41n3.33710 Copyright © 2020, TEKNIK, p-ISSN: 0852-1697, e-ISSN: 240-9919