Pillow Type Underwater Air Lift Bags Deployed for Subsea Pipeline Leveling in Offshore Wind Project

Pillow Type Underwater Air Lift Bags Deployed for Subsea Pipeline Leveling in Offshore Wind Project

In Q2 2026, a nearshore offshore wind engineering team completed subsea pipeline repositioning and leveling work off the coast of Northern Europe. A section of undersea power cable pipeline shifted slightly due to seabed sediment erosion, which posed risks to long-term operational safety. The narrow underwater working space and flat pipeline structure ruled out parachute and cylindrical lift bags. The contractor chose multiple IMCA D-016 certified pillow type underwater air lift bags as the primary buoyancy solution for fine adjustment.

The flat, low-profile pillow lift bags were installed underneath the pipeline at intervals. Thanks to the large contact surface, the bags distributed buoyancy evenly without sliding on the smooth pipeline surface. Divers carried out precise inflation step by step to slowly lift and adjust the pipeline to its designed position. The fully enclosed structure together with built-in pressure relief valves kept stable buoyancy during the whole operation and eliminated the risk of sudden air loss.

The pipeline leveling task was finished safely within two working days. This project proves pillow type lift bags excel in confined-space subsea precision engineering. They become the preferred buoyancy tool for subsea pipeline maintenance, dock foundation repair and other nearshore projects requiring uniform, controllable minor lifting force, gaining wide acceptance among global marine and diving contractors.