Thordon shafting system for new tankers
Thordon’s distributor in China, CY Engineering, supplied, installed and commissioned the systems for the 9000dwt Orkim Sapphire and Orkim Pearl, and 14,500dwt Orkim Diamond and Orkim Emerald. The package comprised COMPAC seawater lubricated bearings machined for shaft diameters of 380mm and 405mm together with Thordon’s Water Quality Package.
“These charterers set stringent vessel safety and performance parameters, so it is a testament to the operational and environmental capability and reliability of the COMPAC bearing material – and a seawater lubricated propeller shaft system in general – that Thordon continues to attract new customers,” said Alex Li, CY Engineering’s managing director.
When the 9000dwt Orkim Topaz, the final in the series, is delivered later this year, the Orkim fleet will total 23 oil and gas tankers ranging from 3251dwt LPG carriers to 50,000dwt product tankers. The operator is a significant player in the Malaysian shipping industry, with a customer base that includes Shell, ExxonMobil, Petronas, Nippon Gas Line and other major oil companies.
Formulated to reduce start up friction and eliminate stick-slip, an open seawater lubricated propeller shaft system is said to offer considerable advantages to ship owners, not only in bearing wear life predictability and reliability, but in lower maintenance costs and ease of installation.
