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Propeller Shaft Bearing Systems News

16 Jul 2018

Thordon Bearings: EAL Protection in a Class of its Own

The ideal solution for the tightening regulatory noose also brings a different (and welcome) shade of ‘green’ for workboat operators.As the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ramps up enforcement of regulations that mandate that all vessels over 24 meters (78 feet) operating in US waters must switch over to EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces before their next drydocking, it is an arguably good time to be in the lubricants business. At the same time, Thordon Bearings, a manufacturer of seawater lubricated bearings for the marine industry has its own thoughts on that very topic. Specifically, Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Director of Marketing and Customer Service, asks, “What is the point in shipowners investing in costly bio-lubricants when seawater is widely available and 100% free?

04 May 2017

Thordon, DDW-D Partner for Shaft Line Conversions

Terry McGowan, President and CEO, Thordon Bearings (seated right), and Mohammad Rizal (left), Chief Operating Officer of Drydocks World- Dubai, sign an agreement that affirms the two companies’ efforts to convert ships to seawater lubricated propeller shaft lines from oil (Photo: Thordon Bearings)

Thordon Bearings and Drydocks World-Dubai (DDW-D) have signed an agreement under which the UAE-based shipyard will work together with Thordon Bearings Inc. to promote the conversion of ships’ oil lubricated propeller shafts to Thordon’s COMPAC open seawater lubricated bearing system. The agreement will create an action plan in which a specialist team, comprised of Drydocks World-Dubai and Thordon Bearings’ personnel, offer support to ship managers and owners looking to ensure…

14 Mar 2017

Thordon’s SeaThigor up for Environmental Award

SeaThigor, the forward propeller shaft seal Thordon Bearings introduced to the market last year, has been nominated in the technology category of the Green4Sea awards, which will take place in Athens this April. Officially unveiled at Hamburg’s SMM exhibition, last September, the SeaThigor forward seal has been cited as “raising the bar in dynamic and static seal design”. It incorporates an ingenious secondary seal module to provide Safe-Return-To-Port capability in the event of a face failure of the primary seal. A pneumatically activated inflatable element prevents water ingress along the shaft, allowing for the repair of the main seal whilst at sea, or for the shaft to turn at a lower speed so the vessel can safely return to port for primary seal repair or replacement.

04 Nov 2016

SNAME Honors Thordon's Sandy Thomson

SNAME honored Thordon's Sandy Thomson. (Photo: Thordon)

At the opening session of the 2016 SNAME Maritime Convention in Bellevue, Washington, George A. (Sandy) Thomson was elected a Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). This is quite an honor for Thomson who has a long family history in the maritime industry. Thomson’s great, great grandfather was a deep sea captain sailing the Great Lakes before becoming a lighthouse keeper; his uncle was head of Shell Canada when Shell maintained a fleet of steam powered tankers operating on the Great Lakes…

28 Aug 2015

Thordon Bearings Names New China Distributor

Photo: Thordon Bearings

Thordon Bearings Inc. of Canada announced that CY Engineering Co. Ltd. will take over as the new authorized distributor for the People’s Republic of China, including Macau and Hong Kong, effective August 28, 2015. With this agreement, CY Engineering becomes Thordon’s stocking distributor for manufacturer of nonmetallic marine bearing systems. A company with over 25 years’ experience in seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems, Thordon Bearings designs and manufactures a complete range of nonmetallic sleeve bearing solutions for marine…

24 Aug 2015

Thordon's Compac Ordered for 2 EcoCoasters

An artist’s impression of the VG EcoCoaster  design (Photo: Thordon Bearings)

Thordon Bearings’ Swedish distributor, Duwel Sweden, has signed a contract with Caterpillar Propulsion for the supply and installation of Thordon COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems to the two general cargo ships Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes is building for Finland’s Meriaura Group. Each state-of-the-art 4700 dwt VG EcoCoaster, designed by Meriaura Group together with partners Foreship and Aker Arctic Technology, will feature COMPAC bearings, a Thordon Water Quality Package and a forward shaft seal in order to exceed current and anticipated environmental regulations.

03 Jun 2015

Thordon Reports Big Orders from Chinese Shipyards

Photo: Thordon Bearings

Thordon Bearings has received an order for a total of 20 seawater-lubricated COMPAC Propeller Shaft Bearing Systems for Chinese shipyards, marking the Canadian company’s most significant order for commercial vessels. Thordon Bearings, a manufacturer of advanced seawater-lubricated stern tube bearing systems, will supply COMPAC and Thordon Water Quality Packages for installation to various merchant and offshore newbuilds under construction for an undisclosed Chinese shipowner.

05 Jan 2015

‘Seawater is the Ultimate EAL’

Cost comparison of stern tube lubricants (Image courtesy of Thordon Bearings)

Thordon Bearings Inc., a manufacturer of seawater lubricated bearings for the global marine industry, has questioned the rise of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) in oil-based stern tube seals and bearings, stating the industry can use “the most environmentally safe lubricant” there is: seawater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is enforcing regulations introduced in December 2013 that stipulate that all vessels over 24 meters in length operating in U.S. waters must switch over to EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces before their next drydocking.

11 Dec 2013

Don’t Forget: Seawater is a Free EAL

Typical netting and rope around rotating shaft damages aft seal.

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.

05 Sep 2003

No Oil Spoken Here: BP’s Shafts are Oil-Free

Safer than safe could be dubbed the term that sums up the design philosophy on four 185,000 dwt Alaskan-class tankers that will soon be carrying oil along the U.S. West Coast. Currently being built in San Diego, Calif. by NASSCO, the BP Shipping-owned vessels feature the latest innovations in safe-ship design, including Thordon COMPAC water-lubricated propeller shaft bearings. During the design phase of the vessels, BP was determined to leave no stone unturned in its quest to minimize the risk of oil leakage. This included building in multiple redundant systems, and eliminating the use of oil wherever possible. "The prop shaft is an area where, traditionally, some lubricating oil can leak into the sea," says Stan Taylor, technical manager for BP.

28 Feb 2007

Fincantieri Orders Thordon Shaft Bearing Systems

Fincantieri has ordered Thordon seawater lubricated COMPAC propeller shaft bearing systems for a new 116,000GT cruise ship being built for Princess Cruises at the Monfalcone Shipyard in Italy for 2008 delivery. This will be the tenth Carnival Corp.-owned ship fitted with seawater lubricated COMPAC bearings since the first installation in 1998 on Grand Princess. The COMPAC tapered key bearing system is similar to those supplied by Thordon to the nine other Princess/P&O Cruises ships. “Seawater is pumped from the sea chest to the stern tube and strut bearings and exits from the bearing to the sea (there is no aft seal and no oil). The COMPAC tapered key system allows inspection of the bearing and shaft journal without withdrawing the shaft from the ship…

05 Jul 2001

MHI Orders Thordon For Cruises Newbuilds

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has ordered water lubricated Thordon COMPAC propeller shaft bearing systems for two new cruise ships being built for Princess Cruises at the Nagasaki Shipyard in Japan. The two 110,000+ ton ships will be larger than the "Grand" class ships delivered from Italy. In addition, the MHI ships will incorporate a gas turbine along with four diesel engines in a new propulsion arrangement. Thordon Bearings is supplying a split carrier design that allows easy removal of the bearings with the shaft still in place. The elastomeric polymer alloy bearing inserts for the 642 mm dia. propeller shafts are in Thordon's COMPAC configuration - designed to promote hydrodynamic operation at low shaft speeds.