Submarine

Thordon pursued the Halifax-class frigates throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, only to lose out to rubber, the dominant naval bearing at the time. When the rubber bearings could not meet the HMCS Halifax’s demands during sea trials, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) knew who to turn to. Thordon’s revolutionary COMPAC propeller shaft bearing design allowed for hydrodynamic operation at low shaft speeds and a low acoustic signature, passing sea trials very successfully. Thordon’s COMPAC tailshaft bearings went on to enjoy a 26-year wearlife run in the Halifax’s A-Brackets, three times the life of Thordon’s closest bearing competitor.

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has again selected Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft bearing system for two icebreakers, the Pierre Radisson scheduled later this year and the Des Groseilliers scheduled to be installed in the 2020 dry dock. CCG, a long-standing customer of Thordon Bearings, decided to retrofit the award-winning COMPAC system to the 6098gt Des Groseilliers following more than 17 years’ operational experience with the Thordon solution. The new COMPAC bearings will be supplied and machined by Thordon distributor RMH Industries of Québec, Canada.