Page 38: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 1986)

Quick Delivery Reduces

Drydocking Costs For

Navy Bearing Replacement

With drydocking costs sometimes topping $10,000 per day, shipowners take a serious interest in delivery schedules for replacement parts, even when their resources are as vast as those of the U.S. Navy. The problem becomes increasingly acute when replacements can be ordered only after the original parts have been removed in drydock and exam- ined for wear.

This fact came to light with the recent refitting of propeller shaft bearings for the Military Sea- lift Command tanker Kawishiwi (T-AO-146). One of six Neosho

Class oilers, the 38,000-ton vessel has a cargo capacity of approxi- mately 180,000 barrels of fuel oil.

The Kawishiwi's two propeller shaft liners were found to be worn beyond acceptable levels during a recent overhaul at Versatile Pacific

Shipyards Inc. in North Vancouver,

B.C. The under-size liners made it necessary to replace her two stern- tube and two strut bearings with over-size components. The over-size bearings brought the critical clear- ance between the 21 Vs -inch shaft liners and the bearings back to an acceptable Vs inch.

Normal procurement time for re- placement of the original bearings with the same type is 10 days for manufacturing, plus normal ship- ping time. With the assistance of

Vancouver distributor Pacific Pro- pulsion Ltd., the shipyard ordered

Thordon XL elastomeric stave bear- ings from the manufacturer, Thom- son-Gordon Ltd. These staves were manufacturered in a one-step mold- ing process and delivered to the yard all within seven days.

Apart from fast delivery, the

Navy can expect further benefits from the oiler's new bearings. The material has a coefficient of friction that is less that half that of rubber.

Therefore, at slow speeds, before hydrodynamic conditions are achieved and water becomes the ef- fective bearing surface, less torque will be required to drive the ship.

This will result in reduced bearing and liner wear, quieter running, no "stick-slip" phenomenon, a measure of fuel economy, and longer life for most of the final drive components.

For further information and free literature describing in detail the specifications and applications of

Thordon XL bearings,

Circle 4 on Reader Service Card

Portsmouth Naval Yard

To Perform Sub Overhaul

Worth $112 Million

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,

Portsmouth, N.H., is the successful offeror in a competitive test pro- gram between public and private sector shipyards for the regular overhaul of USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642). Portsmouth Naval

Shipyard is being assigned the over- haul on a fixed-price-incentive ba- sis. The target price for this effort is $112,100,000. Work will be per- formed in Portsmouth, and is ex- pected to be completed November 10, 1988. The Naval Sea Systems

Command, Washington, D.C., is the requiring activity. $12.2-Million Contract

Awarded Swiftships To

Build 30 Patrol Boats

Swiftships, Inc. of Morgan City,

La., has been awarded a $12,178,268 fixed price FMS contract for the supply of patrol boats and asso- ciated support hardware and ser- vices to the government of Came- roon.

Work, which will be performed in

Morgan City, will consist of the con- struction of thirty, 38-foot high- speed aluminum patrol craft, plus modular maintenance and ware- house facilities. Services supplied under this contract will include op- erational, maintenance and repair training, and in-country technical assistance.

Swiftships is one of the world's leading producers of high-speed pa- trol and interdiction vessels, having delivered more than 350 boats to 42 countries.

Swiftships, Inc., is a subsidiary of

NGS Enterprises, headquartered in

Washington, D.C.

For free literature containing complete information on facilities and services offered by Swiftships,

Circle 125 on Reader Service Card

Every Kind of Shipwork

TODD SHIPYARDS CORPORATION 1 Evertrust Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Telephone: (201) 434-0200 Cable "Robin" JerseyCity Telex: WUI 620100

GALVESTON/LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO/SEATTLE 40 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News