Istanbul Naval Shipyards has installed Thordon COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings on the new Turkish Navy Milgem Frigates. The keel was laid for the first vessel, TCG Heybeliada (F-511), in July 2005. Launched in September 2008, the vessel is scheduled to commission in early 2011. The second vessel in class, TCG Büyükada (F-512), was laid in September 2008. It is scheduled to be launched in 2010 and commissioned in 2013.
The Milgem class frigates are 324 ft in length with a displacement of 2000 tons. The vessels are powered by twin diesels and a single gas turbine turning twin controllable pitch propellers mounted on 21.5-inch diameter propeller shafts riding on Thordon COMPAC seawater lubricated bearings. The vessels will have a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top speed in excess of 29 knots.
The COMPAC bearing system was supplied to VA Tech by Thordon distributor, Belthor Systems GmbH. The system features Thordon’s split tapered key design, where the bearings can be removed, inspected and reinstalled in just a few hours with the shaft still in place.
There are currently over 600 ships operating with pollution-free COMPAC propeller shaft bearings. Thordon COMPAC bearing system offers excellent operational and wear performance, reduced breakaway torque, low acoustic signature, ease of maintenance and survivability (non-catastrophic failure mode). COMPAC has been used for over 30 years in naval seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing applications.
Thordon Bearings Inc. designs and manufactures a complete range of environmentally friendly propeller shaft, rudder and shaftline products for the global marine market. Recognized internationally for superior performance in marine applications, Thordon Bearings has a worldwide customer service network in over 100 countries.