20-ship order for radial bolts

The vessels, which are to be built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, will be delivered during 2012 and 2013.

The Pilgrim bolts will be fitted to the flanges of the final shaft section, enabling fast and easy removal of the tail shaft and avoiding the problems normally associated with removing conventional ‘shrink fit’ bolts.

The company says that unlike shrink fit bolts, once installed, the radial fit bolt will remain with the vessel for its lifetime and can be removed and refitted as many times as required without damage to either the flange hole or bolt.