Seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings

Viking Cruises said that the decision to equip the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard built Viking Star with these bearings was taken because it wants all of its newbuilds to present no risk of oil pollution in the case of bearing or seal failure.

“With the elimination of aft seal maintenance and no oil required, we are expecting considerable cost savings over the life of the vessels,” said Richard Goodwin, vice president-engineering, Viking Ocean Cruises.

Designed with the environment in mind, Viking’s ocean ships feature energy-efficient hybrid engines, hydro-dynamically optimised streamlined hulls and bows for maximum fuel efficiency, onboard solar panels, and equipment that minimises exhaust pollution.

The Viking Star has a Thordon COMPAC tapered key bearing design with a shaft size of 464mm (18.268”). This means that no complicated aft seal is required. Seawater is taken from the sea, pumped through the bearings, and returned back to the sea resulting in service maintenance costs, the elimination of storage, sampling, and disposal of oils, thus helping to ensure future compliance with any zero discharge legislation.

Canada’s Thordon Bearings Inc. Is a leading manufacturer of water lubricated propeller shaft bearings, grease-free rudder and deck equipment bearings, seals and other shaftline products for the global marine market.