The Thordon BlueWater Seal is a water lubricated forward seal with a Safe Return to Port (SRTP) emergency seal for 300mm (11.811”) to 1000mm (39.370”) propeller shafts. The BlueWater Seal is manufactured to the same exacting standards as Thordon’s TG100 and SeaThigor seals incorporating an economical solution with reliable performance.
The sealing faces of the BlueWater Seal consist of a high strength, abrasive resistant main sealing ring mated with a stainless steel face. The unique design features on the sealing face promote a hydrodynamic lubricating film while keeping water leakage to a minimum.
During operation, the water film remains consistent between sealing faces eliminating dry-running conditions. The BlueWater Seal at first glance looks much like other axial lip face seals that have been on the market for several years. There is a fundamental difference however. The RENFORM main sealing ring employs a unique design feature which permits the face to operate with less friction and without the friction spikes as we discovered when evaluating competitive seals on our full scale test rig. In practical terms, this means that the Thordon BlueWater Seal with its proprietary RENFORM sealing ring is better suited to variable draft and deeper draft vessel conditions. The other BlueWater Seal components will last the life of the vessel. Due to the simplicity of the seal design, seal maintenance is minimal. The seal also includes the built-in Safe Return to Port benefit that allows the vessel to return safely to the nearest port if the primary seal is damaged.
Thordon High Performance Seals
Ship owners and managers know Thordon products are the proven choice for performance and value. BlueWater Seals are manufactured to last and are designed for use in newbuild construction and retrofits.
Safe Return to Port (SRTP) Emergency Seal
The SRTP emergency seal allows you to return safely to the nearest port if your primary seal is ever damaged. When the emergency seal is engaged, the propeller shaft can be rotated and the vessel can proceed to a repair facility on its own power, at reduced speeds. The SRTP emergency seal is made from a Thordon proprietary polymer and never needs to be replaced.
The Open Seawater Lubricated Shaftline Solution
The BlueWater Seal is part of the complete COMPAC open seawater lubricated Propeller Shaft Bearing system that also includes COMPAC bearings, shaft liners, anti-corrosion shaft coating, a Thordon Water Quality Package and a Thordon Bearing Condition Monitoring System. An open seawater lubricated system is significantly less complex to install and operate than an oil lubricated system with a compressed air seal.