Page 33: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2024)

EAL AND STERN TUBE DAMAGES

STACKING not forget any oil leak, big or small, can be catastrophic to the marine environment and marine life, with some EALs found to

THE DECKS be only slightly less damaging than the phased-out traditional

WITH BEST-IN-CLASS MARINE oils,” said VP of Business Development, Craig Carter.

TECHNOLOGIES, TURNKEY

PARTS AND SERVICE

Water lubrication has faced its own challenges over the past decade. Individual class societies have gradually updated their rules to re? ect the modernization of seawater lubricated bear- ing materials and systems. Previously, seawater-based systems had to comply with costly ? ve-yearly shaft withdrawal require- ments. They are now subject to the same extended 15 to 18- year shaft withdrawal inspection periods as those using oil lu- brication, subject to monitoring criteria.

Thordon announced in December 2023 that it is forming the

Blue Ocean Alliance with Wärtsilä to promote a stern tube-less 3KRWRE\3HWW\2?FHUUG&ODVV-XVWLQ6FKRHQEHUJHU 8VHRIUHOHDVHG861DY\LPDJHU\GRHVQRWFRQVWLWXWHSURGXFWRURUJDQL]DWLRQDOHQGRUVHPHQWRIDQ\NLQGE\WKH861DY\ ship concept. The design replaces a vessel’s stern tube with an irregular shaped chamber that allows a shorter, water-lubricat- ed propeller shaft to be inspected and maintained while the ves- sel is a? oat.

Wärtsilä has also introduced EvoTube, a simpli? ed system

OUR FAMILY OF BRANDS with fewer components than a conventional stern tube system, which is suitable for both oil and water lubrication systems.

The inboard seal is mounted directly on the aft bearing housing, and the forward bearing is replaced with a standalone bearing inside the engine room. Its design optimizes space utilization

FairbanksMorseDefense.com and eases maintenance tasks.

So, the coming decade promises to be interesting and hope- fully less concerning than the last for the Gard analysts.

Lignum Vitae is engaged in engineering tests in collaboration with Hydro Tech in

Canada.

Photo Courtesy Lignum Vitae

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