Burlington, Canada – Thordon Bearings Inc. today announced it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) under which it will cooperate with MSR Gryfia of Poland to promote the conversion of ships to an open seawater lubricated propeller shaft Thordon bearing system from a sealed oil lubricated propeller shaft bearing system.
The LOI will create an action plan in which a “Ship Conversion Team”, composed of MSR Gryfia and Thordon Bearings representatives, will promote this initiative to the marine community. The goal of this movement will be to offer support to ship managers/owners seeking to proactively ensure that their vessels are environmentally-safe to meet existing and future global legislation which prohibits any discharge of oil from sea/ocean going vessels. Failure to observe these types of legislation typically results in substantial penalties and fines for the uncompliant party.
“There is a worldwide movement to reduce or eliminate pollution from ships,” says Scott Groves, Business Development Manager at Thordon. “Leaking shaft seals are known to be a significant contributor to on-going pollution at sea. The use of biodegradable lubricants, which are an improvement over mineral oil, are still a very expensive option for ship owners and some are having seal compatibility issues. Even biodegradable lubricants still need to be reported to authorities when discharges occur. Thordon provides a solution that uses seawater as the lubricant that meets all regulations, eliminating any risk of oil pollution.”
Pawel Prozycki, Director of Marketing at MSR Gryfia, said: “By entering into this partnership with Thordon Bearings Inc., MSR Gryfia will not only have an opportunity to grow but will also have the opportunity to offer their customers a real long term solution to environmental issues relating to the AFT seal and oil lubricated stern tubes. As the environmental concerns of oil discharges become more and more restrictive, converting an oil lubricated system to seawater is the only guaranteed solution for today and tomorrow.”
About MSR Gryfia
MSR Gryfia is a reputable shipyard that specializes in ship restoration and rebuildings. With over 60 years of experience in the marine industry, it is capable of carrying out complicated repairs, including those related to main engines, shaft lines, screw propellers, and deck equipment. Through the years, MSR Gryfia has implemented many successful conversions of bulk carriers, container ships, parcel tankers, and passenger vessels.