Page 76: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2013)

76 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ? NOVEMBER 2013 Brazilian superyacht builder MCP Yachts credited Seatorque Con- trol Systems for contributing to the outstanding performance of its latest launch ? the Hemisphere 140 Raffaella II. Incorporating Seatorque?s enclosed drive shaft system, the 43m aluminum vessel, powered by twin Caterpillar C32 1825 HP engines, achieved a top cruising speed of 22 knots during sea trials with an 85% load and 167 metric tons displacement, said MCP president Manoel Chaves. The vessel features a pair M3-400 single-piece Seatorque shaft systems, each 22 ft. long, accommodating the vessel?s four-inch di- ameter shafts. ?The vessel?s light weight, propeller design and shaft system all add together to make a huge difference,? said Chavez. ?In all my years on the water, I have never witnessed a vessel this size with a com-parable power package to cruise at this speed. Thanks to Seatorque?s enclosed shaft system, the vessel achieved maxi-mum horsepower, experienced zero shaft noise and vibration, and produced very little wake.?Launched in July, Raffaella II is the largest yacht built in Brazil to date and re- portedly the largest aluminum yacht ever built in South America. The vessel was designed by MCP in collaboration with Vripack and built at the MCP shipyard in Guarujá . It is the third vessel built by MCP Yachts to include the Seatorque En- closed Shaft System.According to Seatorque executive vice president Jana Stolper, the Seatorque Enclosed Shaft System is growing in popularity among superyacht builders, as evidenced by the 2012 installation on the highly-acclaimed McConaghy Yachts Adastra, designed by John Shuttleworth. This futuristic 140-foot trimaran, pow-ered by a single Caterpillar 1,000 HP C18 engine, features an Seatorque ST-300, 32- foot, one-piece enclosed shaft system.The Seatorque Enclosed Shaft System is a self-contained, oil Þ lled, shaft and thrust bearing assembly designed for yachts of all sizes. The system is supplied as a single unit from the propeller end to the engine input coupling accommodating any length shaft and diameters up to seven inches. Operating as a self-contained unit, the Seatorque system allows propeller thrust to be Þ elded by internal bearings and delivered through the shaft?s mount- ing system supported by the structure of the vessel, rather than the vessel?s engines and isolators. This reduces vibration and noise and increase the life expectancy of the engines and transmission mounts. The Seatorque system connects the shaft to the engine using ß exible universal joint assemblies. This eliminates leaking stuff- ing boxes, seals, cutlass bearings and as-sociated shaft wear. The use of universal joint assemblies also eliminates damaging engine-to-shaft misalignment and reduces installation and alignment time by more than half. The elimination of cutlass bear- ings and stufÞ ng boxes results in an aver- age eight percent increase in horsepower, allowing for greater fuel economy and range. In addition, water ß ow is undis- turbed by the non-rotating casing of the shaft assembly, allowing clean water ß ow to the propeller. This translates into an in- crease of thrust arc around the propeller, contributing to the efÞ ciency of horse- power delivery. ?The Seatorque system replaces the traditional multiple-compo-nent shaft system with a single piece of equipment that is simple to install and improves the performance and efÞ ciency of any vessel, while greatly reducing shaft noise and vibration,? said Stolper. ?These are very important beneÞ ts for yacht own- ers, especially those accustomed to long-range travel.?www.seatorque.com Tech FileSeatorque Boost for Brazil?s Biggest Superyacht The MCP Hemisphere 140 Raffaella II is the largest yacht built in Brazil to date and the largest aluminum yacht ever constructed in South America. Powered by twin Caterpillar C32 1825 HP engines, Raffaella II achieved a top cruising speed of 22 knots during sea trials producing a minimal wake. The Seatorque Enclosed Shaft System is a self-contained, oil-Þ lled shaft and thrust bearing assembly designed to increase horsepower, fuel economy and engine life while minimiz- ing shaft noise and vibration. The system is supplied as a single unit from the propeller end to the engine input coupling accommodating any length shaft and diameters up to seven inches.MR #11 (74-81).indd 76MR #11 (74-81).indd 7611/12/2013 4:12:52 PM11/12/2013 4:12:52 PM