Professional Underwater Lift Bags

Professional Underwater Lift Bags are open-bottom, parachute-style underwater flotation devices designed for construction, salvage, offshore and subsea lifting operations. Originally developed in response to a U.S. Navy requirement for a flotation device capable of withstanding extreme abuse, this design evolved into the industry-standard Professional Lift Bag range.

Manufactured by Subsalve USA, these lift bags combine exceptional strength, low elasticity and superior resistance to abrasion and chemical attack, making them one of the most versatile and dependable lifting solutions available.

The inverted water-droplet shape maximises lift capacity while minimising material weight, with load stresses evenly distributed across the fabric surface. Each lift bag is supplied fully assembled, equipped with all required hardware, and is individually tested prior to shipping to ensure operational reliability.

Construction & Materials

• Urethane-coated, high-strength nylon fabric

• Heavy-duty construction with RF-welded seams

• Superior abrasion resistance

• Resistant to most petro-chemicals

• UV-resistant

• Low maintenance and easy to clean

Design & Operation

Air Control

• Proprietary Plunger Dump Valve

  • Push-button air release at the top of the bag

  • Lanyard-activated dump at the bottom

  • Allows controlled venting from above, beside or below the bag for precise ascent control

• ¼″ NPT inflation port as standard

Below 2 Tons

• Multiple nylon lift straps sewn directly into the base

• Load carried through the bag structure

• Safe working ratio: 6:1

2 Tons and Above

• Replaceable heavy-duty nylon webbing lift harness integrated into the bag skin

• Load borne through harness system

• Safe working ratio: 6:1

• ¾″ NPT inflation port with quick-disconnect or cam-lock fitting

• ¾″ stainless steel ball valve for rapid deflation

Performance & Safety

• Open-bottom design prevents uncontrolled over-pressurisation

• Even stress distribution across the fabric

• Ready for immediate deployment

• Proven performance in heavy salvage and offshore operations

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Each lift bag tested prior to shipping

• Custom sizes available

• Compliant with:

  • IMCA D-016-AIRBAGS

  • ABS

  • U.S. Department of Defense Standards

Available Capacities

Professional Lift Bags are available in a wide range of capacities from 500 kg up to 50,000 kg, supporting everything from light recovery tasks to major offshore and subsea salvage operations.

Typical Applications

• Offshore and subsea construction

• Light and heavy marine salvage

• Ship husbandry and recovery

• Underwater civil engineering

• Controlled lifting and relocation of submerged structures

Product Specifications