News

Thordon Bearings has welcomed the introduction of a new classification society notation this week allowing extended inspection periods for propeller shafts using seawater-lubricated bearings. DNV GL’s new voluntary TMON notation for open loop water lubricated propeller shafts follows similar rule revisions by Lloyd’s Register (LR), Bureau Veritas (BV) and the China Classification Society (CCS). Thordon Bearing’s Commercial Director, Andy Edwards, said: “As long as certain condition monitoring criteria are met, DNV GL’s new rules mean that propeller shafts operating water-lubricated bearings no longer need to be withdrawn for inspection every five years. There will be no pre-determined intervals between shaft withdrawal surveys.” “The five-year shaft inspection rules previously stipulated in most shaft condition monitoring notations were a major deterrent to the wider take-up of the water lubricated system, but now the world’s leading classification society has revised its rules we can present a viable and proven alternative to oil-lubricated propeller shafts.”

After nine years of operation in the harsh, abrasive waters of Alaska’s Yukon River, aboard Inland Barge Service’s push boat Ramona, Thordon Bearings’ RiverTough water-lubricated tail-shaft bearing system has emerged completely free of wear and tear. The exceptional performance of the RiverTough bearings in waters renowned for their high content of gritty glacial silt came to light when the 16m (52.5ft) workboat’s cracked struts underwent repair in dry-dock. Charles Hnilicka, the owner of Inland Barge Service Inc, said: “In the spring of 2011 we were doing some hot work on one of the struts and decided to change the bearing since everything was apart. We didn’t have to and could have reinstalled the original bearing after the hot work, but we had a spare set. “When we took it out, the RiverTough bearing and sleeves had no appreciable wear and tear, which was amazing considering the environment in which the Ramona operates.”

COMPAC, Thordon Bearings’ seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing system, won the prestigious Tanker Shipping & Trade Environment Award yesterday following a verdict that the system allows shipowners to cost-effectively comply with stringent marine pollution rules.

Thordon Bearings has signed a landmark contract to supply COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing solutions to two Jones Act containerships under construction at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. (APSI) for Matson Navigation Company, Inc.

COMPAC propeller shaft bearings just do not break. That is the conclusion from Carl, a Thordon Bearings’ service engineer who has devoted considerable time and energy attempting to smash one to pieces.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is no stranger when it comes to using Thordon COMPAC propeller shaft bearings in its vessels. Over two decades ago in May 1992, the RCN (then known as the Canadian Navy) back-fit its lead frigate, HMCS Halifax, with Thordon COMPAC. The first of 12 new patrol frigates, the RCN selected Halifax as the exemplary ship to set a precedent for her sister ships and represented what the RCN then deemed to be ìthe most advanced warship in the world.