Metal Bearings News

Egypt’s SUMED pipeline operator Arab Petroleum Pipeline Company (SUMED) has completed the tailshaft conversion to Thordon’s SXL seawater-lubricated bearing system for seven special purpose single point mooring (SPM) service boats.The final vessel in a series of 17.5m (57.4ft) long, 1976–built service boats had its original oil-lubricated tailshaft bearings replaced with the Thordon system at Nefertiti Marine’s Yard-K, in Rosetta Nile, in December 2022. The first vessel, SUMED 10…

Peer-reviewed research by Thordon Bearings into the hydrodynamic lubrication efficiency of a ship’s propeller shaft bearing has found that the use of seawater-lubricated elastomeric polymer bearings reduces fuel consumption.The environmental and financial benefits of adopting a seawater-lubricated propeller shaft system are well documented, but this is the first indication that the arrangement reduces hydrodynamic resistance enough to improve fuel consumption, compared to a conventional…

Workboats, ships and megayachts rely on large and extra-large rudder bearings. Having a vessel in dry dock for days or weeks while waiting for an oversized bearing is costly and frustrating, said Vesconite, whose machined Vesconite and Vesconite Superclad replacements—up to 10' in diameter with practically any wall thickness—are available for immediate shipment from a global network of dedicated dealers, and with fast turnaround times for custom sizes. Vesconite is an advanced…

If your vessel is trading in U.S. waters, you need to be aware of the new oil to sea interface law that comes into effect on Dec. 19, 2013. According to the new U.S. Environment Protection Agency Vessel General Permit (VGP), all vessels built on or after Dec. 19, 2013, must use an environmentally acceptable lubricant (EAL) in all oil to sea interfaces. For all vessels built before this date, unless technically not feasible, ship owners must use an EAL in all oil to sea interfaces. Additional information on the EPA’s VGP can be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/vessels/vgpermit.cfm#final.

Thordon Bearings Inc. has launched the newest addition to their grease‐free polymer lineup: ThorPlas‐Blue. The lifetime lubricated bearing formula is capable of operating pressures up to 45MPa (6,527 psi) and can be easily back‐fit into virtually all deck machinery applications where greased bronze is currently installed. ThorPlas‐Blue was developed as a maintenance‐free solution to replaced greased bronze bearings as well as eliminate a source of pollution. Deck machinery and steering gear bearings require frequent maintenance and grease lubrication.

Canadian manufacturer, Thordon Bearings’ seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings have been shortlisted for the Ocean Environmental Protection Award at the 2011 Sustainable Shipping Awards to be held in London, England, July 7, 2011. There are currently over 2000 ships using Thordon seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings and that list is growing. Thordon’s bearing system completely eliminates oil from the ship stern tube by using seawater as the lubrication medium and Thordon non-metallic bearings in place of the metal bearings.