MARINE ISSUE 2019-1

EAIN WEAIE

Thordon’s COMPAC bearing with tapered keyset installed at the shipyard COMPAC FOR LIFE: IN THIS ISSUE...

THORDON SEAWATER LUBRICATED Viking Jupiter Delivered with Thordon 4 Water Lubricated Propulsion Arrangement PROPELLER SHAFT BEARINGS Coast Guard Solves Shaftline Problem with 6 Thordon Propeller Shaft Bearing System GUARANTEED FOR A LIFETIME Provides 1st 8 Reference for Thordon’s SeaThigor Seal Thordon Bearings is offering its award-winning COMPAC seawater Lomar’s Super-Eco Boxships Mark European lubricated propeller shaft bearing system with a lifetime bearing wearlife 10 Breakthrough for Thordon Bearings guarantee. Mooring System Installation Highlights 12 Thordon’s Increasing Range of Bearing Previously COMPAC bearings have been offered with a 15-year wearlife Applications guarantee but Thordon, the global leader in seawater lubricated propeller Polymer Pioneer, George A. Thomson, 14 Wins Prestigious Elmer A. Sperry Award shaft bearings, announced at the SMM 2018 trade show in Hamburg, Continued Use of Oil Lubricated Shaft Seals Germany, that its tough polymer bearings will not need to be replaced 16 Counterproductive to Environmental Legislation throughout a vessel’s operational life. Thordon’s Award Winning Products: continued... 2 18 SeaThigor Shaft Seal & COMPAC System

ZERO POLLUTION | HIGH PERFORMANCE | BEARING & SEAL SYSTEMS and the award-winning SeaThigor forward seal, the Thordon system. We first selected seawater shaft bearing market.” COMPAC FOR LIFE ...continued bearing wear is negligible, providing optimum lubrication for environmental reasons, but having The extended wearlife of a component that is critical through life performance from what is already an operated COMPAC on a number of vessels, we to vessel performance is based on an extensive study exceptionally robust bearing. have experienced a reduction in ship operational of the performance data of the 550 plus COMPAC Commenting on his experience of the COMPAC costs compared to oil lubricated propeller shaft shaft bearings in operation on commercial vessels, system installed aboard a number of Princess Cruises configurations. A lifetime guarantee on the bearing is dating back more than 25 years. Ships, Richard Vie, Carnival Corporation’s former likely to add to those savings.” Thordon Bearings’ President and CEO, Terry Vice-President, Technical Development and Quality Carisbrooke Shipping’s first COMPAC installation McGowan, said: “After evaluating the performance Assurance – Shipbuilding, said: “From a business, was in 2011 to the 8,651dwt multipurpose dry and operational data of the ocean-going merchant environmental and safety standpoint, seawater cargo ship Vectis Eagle. Carisbrooke now operates vessels that operate COMPAC seawater lubricated lubricated shaft line bearings offer the optimum solution. the COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings we found that if the environment was “Thordon’s products are proven and reliable with arrangement on a total of eight vessels. controlled - ensuring an adequate supply of clean an exceptional lifetime, and of course the lubricant “Based on our experience with these bearings in water consistently delivered to the shaft bearings – the – seawater – is limitless and without cost. This continuous service for the last 6 years we will ensure COMPAC bearing wear was minimal. Environmental substantially reduces the risk of failures compared that future building specs incorporate the Thordon protection is of course high on the list of priorities to other propulsion solutions and therefore increases system,” added Capt. Merritt. for ship owners, but system reliability, reduced Current ship owners using COMPAC seawater ship availability and protects its earning potential over operational expenditure and maintenance are other Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Director of lubricated propeller shaft bearings include: its lifetime. Operating costs are minimal. The risk of Marketing and Customer Service, said: “For the key factors influencing the purchasing decision.” • Lomar Shipping (UK) polluting the seas through the release of oil or any other global shipping industry to fully support any “We believe our system meets these commercial ship • Grimaldi Group (Italy) lubricants and subsequent fines and adverse publicity movement to safeguard the ocean environment, any owner priorities, and this is why we are pleased to • Alaska Tanker Company (USA) is eliminated completely. Ship performance and safety technological development has to make commercial now offer our COMPAC bearings with a lifetime • Princess Cruises (USA) is not likely to be compromised by propulsion system sense. Shipowners and managers are becoming guarantee. With the announcement today, we are • Atlanska Plovibda (Croatia) failures thus further strengthening the case for adopting much more interested in a proven technology that taking the seawater lubricated propeller shaft to the • Groupe Desgagnés () a seawater lubricated shafting solution.” eliminates both operational and accidental stern next level.” • Carisbrooke Shipping (UK) Captain Simon Merritt, Senior Fleet Manager at tube oil pollution while meeting increasingly stringent • Crowley Maritime Corp. (USA) The COMPAC bearing is guaranteed to meet Carisbrooke Shipping, a long-time proponent international environmental regulations. A ‘COMPAC Classification Society propeller shaft bearing • ConocoPhillips (USA) of the seawater lubricated propeller shaft For Life’ takes advantage of this and helps secure our • CSL Group (Canada) wear specifications for the lifetime of the vessel or arrangement, agreed: “We are very satisfied with leading position in the seawater lubricated propeller Thordon Bearings will supply new bearings free of • COSCO (China) • NY Staten Island Ferries (USA) charge. According to VesselsValue.com, the average • Tropical Shipping (USA) merchant ship lifespan is 25 years. • BC Ferries (Canada) The guarantee is subject to prior approval by • Viking Cruise Lines (UK) Thordon Bearings. All operators of commercial • Polsteam (Poland) tonnage operating with 300mm diameter shafts or • Erik Thun Group (Sweden) greater can benefit from the guarantee, although the • Algoma Corp. (Canada) complete COMPAC system must be specified. When • Blue Star Ferries (Greece) COMPAC operates in conjunction with Thordon’s • Rederiet Stenersen (Norway) Water Quality Package (that removes abrasives), • More than 40 Navies worldwide ThorShield anti corrosion shaft coating, shaft liners

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 Pedrotec is currently negotiating the engineering and VIKING JUPITER supply for the continuation of four Viking newbuilds. For a DELIVERED WITH Richard Goodwin, Vice President, Engineering, The first of the series, Viking Star was delivered in GUARANTEED SOLUTION Viking River Cruises, said: “From the outset, when we 2015, followed in subsequent years by Viking Sea, based on first entered the cruise market four years ago with Viking Sky, Viking Sun, and Viking Orion. PROVEN PERFORMANCE THORDON select a Viking Star, we opted for water lubricated propulsion WATER LUBRICATED as a cost-effective means of reducing the impact of our operations on the marine environment. The COMPAC PROPULSION COMPAC system has proven itself both commercially ...we opted for water Seawater Lubricated and operationally and we look forward to working Propeller Shaft Bearing ARRANGEMENT with Thordon on future projects.” lubricated propulsion Thordon Bearings’ President and CEO, Terry System McGowan, added: “We congratulate Viking Cruises as a cost-effective and Fincantieri on the successful and timely delivery of the sixth vessel in this class, a series of ships that means of reducing EAIN WEAIE have proven immensely popular with passengers and crew. We are delighted that both owner and the impact of our builder continue to support the use of COMPAC water lubricated propulsion.” operations on the Viking’s fleet of modern passenger ships are each marine environment. equipped with energy-efficient hybrid engines to minimise airborne pollution, while the COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system is lubricated by seawater and does not require an aft seal, reducing The delivery of Viking Jupiter places Viking in pole in-service maintenance costs. The vessels’ hull has position as the world’s largest small ship ocean also been optimised for fuel efficiency. cruise line, only four years after launching its ocean Viking Jupiter, the 47,800gt cruise ship built at According to Alfredo Tosato, Managing Director at business. Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy for Viking Pedrotec, Thordon Bearings authorised distributor in Cruises, has been delivered with a Thordon Bearings’ Italy, Fincantieri frequently specifies COMPAC for its seawater-lubricated propeller shaft system. It is newbuilding projects. the sixth Viking cruise ship to be fitted out with the “When Viking started working with Fincantieri on COMPAC bearing arrangement. these vessels, the shipbuilder recommended the Two 930 passenger-capacity sisterships, Viking Tellus Thordon solution at the design stage due to the and Viking Venus, currently undergoing construction excellent performance of the installations on the at Fincantieri and slated for delivery in 2021, have Disney Magic and Princess Cruise Lines’ Grand also been specified with the pollution-free Thordon Princess. For every new project where a conventional system. Further newbuilds of the same class have also propulsion arrangement is selected, we work with been ordered for delivery between 2022 and 2027, both builder and owner to design and engineer the though supply contracts have yet to be finalised. optimum bearing solution.”

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 COAST GUARD SOLVES SHAFTLINE PROBLEM WITH Both vessels are powered by a diesel-electric plant Thordon’s Scott Groves, Regional Manager for the comprising six Bombardier/Alco 251 engines Americas, pointed out that for once the environmental THORDON PROPELLER SHAFT BEARING SYSTEM each driving a GEC alternator. There are two DC advantages of water-lubricated bearings, particularly electric propulsion motors, each turning a fixed pitch for vessels engaged in Arctic voyages, were not a propeller, with a total power output of 10,100kW. factor, as this class of ship has always had seawater lubricated screwshafts. “The work on the Des Groseilliers and Pierre Radisson Switching to Thordon mostly has to do with reduced maintenance and limiting future expenditures,” said Groves. COMPAC bearings and “Des Groseilliers was fitted with Thordon equipment Water Quality Packages in 2001 and over the years the bearings have allows an extension in performed in exemplary fashion. “Switching to Thordon COMPAC bearings and Water bearing life, giving the Quality Packages allows an extension in bearing life, Coast Guard reliable access giving the Coast Guard reliable access to the asset, and ultimately savings to the Canadian taxpayer, to the asset, and ultimately thanks to greatly reduced maintenance costs.” savings to the Canadian Groves added that it was COMPAC’s performance taxpayer, thanks to greatly and ease of maintenance that were most attractive to the CCG, along with the recent class requirements reduced maintenance costs. for Lloyd’s Register shaft condition monitoring (SCM). A third CCG ship in the 1200-class is also scheduled for COMPAC conversion. Commissioned in Jasmin Racicot, Technical Development Director 1979 as the Franklin (later Sir John Franklin), the of RMH Industries, said: “The Thordon COMPAC vessel was declared surplus to requirements and Canadian Coast Guard ship, Des Groseilliers, decommissioned in 2000. It was subsequently with converted water-lubricated COMPAC propeller shaft bearings system bearings were fitted to the Des Groseilliers to replace another manufacturer’s dovetail staves. Wear and converted to an icebreaking Arctic scientific research The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has again selected Des Groseilliers’ 5910gt sister, CCGS Pierre Radisson, fatigue had led to the dovetail staves becoming vessel, renamed Amundsen, and recommissioned in Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC water lubricated is scheduled to have its existing dovetail staves loose between the bronze separators, leading to 2003. The Amundsen is expected to be converted to propeller shaft bearing system for two , replaced with Thordon full form COMPAC bearings high levels of vibration. Replacing dovetail staves Thordon COMPAC bearings in 2019. the Pierre Radisson and the Des Groseilliers scheduled later in 2018. These will again be supplied and with tube bearings was a significant improvement in to be installed in the 2020 dry dock. machined by RMH Industries, along with supply of this situation.” CCG, a long-standing customer of Thordon Bearings, a Thordon Water Quality Package which maintains decided to retrofit the award-winning COMPAC the correct seawater flow rate to the bearings, and system to the 6098gt Des Groseilliers following removes any abrasives in the seawater ensuring a more than 17 years’ operational experience with the long bearing wearlife. Thordon solution. The new COMPAC bearings will be The Pierre Radisson was launched in 1978, while the supplied and machined by Thordon distributor RMH 6098gt Des Groseilliers entered service four years Industries of Québec, Canada. later.

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 CANADIAN COAST GUARD PROVIDES FIRST ICEBREAKER “The vessels’ existing seals were leaking water into the machinery spaces, which meant they could not REFERENCE FOR THORDON’S SEATHIGOR SEAL discharge oily-water overboard into Arctic waters. Ultimately, CCG needed a seal solution that was robust enough to withstand heavy-duty ice-breaking operations, without leaking. SeaThigor provides that level of robustness,” continued Groves. The seals supplied to the Pierre Radisson-class of ships will also be the first SeaThigors designed with a split casing, as Carl Sykes, Manager of Thordon’s Global Service & Support division, explained. “The limited space available in the vessels’ engine room prevented the installation of a SeaThigor seal with a conventional, fully encased bronze housing. So, we designed a seal with a split casing to simplify the installation and commissioning process, allowing engineers to access the underside of the seal. Many different departments – procurement, design, engineering and manufacturing – came together to really make this happen. It was a complete team effort.” Jasmin Racicot from Thordon’s -based distributor Thordon’s SeaThigor seal on the test rig RMH Industries, added: “What interested CCG about Thordon Bearings has received a Canadian Coast Due to the success of that first SeaThigor installation, the SeaThigor was the seal’s emergency safe-return- Guard contract to supply six award-winning the government permitted the Canadian Coast Guard to-port function and low maintenance requirement; the SeaThigor shaft seals for retrofit installation to three (CCG) to deal directly with Thordon Bearings without silicon carbide faces are designed for reduced wear purpose-built icebreakers. either party having to go through a competitive bid and tear throughout its operational life, resulting in The 5,910gt CCGS Pierre Radisson, named after the process, via the BCIP – Additional Sales. improved life cycle costs for the Coast Guard.” 17th-century French fur trader and explorer, along Scott Groves, Thordon Bearings’ Regional Manager – CCG is a long-standing customer of both Thordon with sisterships CCGS Amundsen and CCGS Des Americas, said: “This is a significant order for Thordon Bearings and RMH, with a number of vessels Groseilliers, will each be retrofitted with two SeaThigor Bearings, marking not only the SeaThigor seal’s first- operating Thordon’s seawater lubricated COMPAC forward seals during scheduled drydockings over ever reference onboard a purpose-built icebreaker bearing system. the next year. but also the largest propeller shaft seals we have One of the first CCG vessels to benefit from COMPAC The order, confirmed on the 1st of April, follows the ever manufactured.” was the 6098gt CCGS Des Groseilliers, which was success of the 2017 installation and subsequent The 98.2m (322ft) long, 1200-class vessels are installed with the system 17-years-ago. It will be fitted operation of SeaThigor seals aboard the designed to Arctic Class 3 requirements and operate with a SeaThigor seal at a scheduled drydocking oceanographic and hydrographic survey vessel twin 674mm (26.5in) diameter shafts driving fixed in 2020. CCGS Amundsen will be converted to CCGS Hudson, for which a procurement agreement pitch propellers. Propulsive power is generated by COMPAC at its next drydocking, when the SeaThigor was signed with the Government of Canada under its six Alco M251F main engines delivering 10142kW seals will also be installed. Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP). of power.

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 LOMAR’S SUPER-ECO “Lomar has a clearly defined set of social responsibility In addition to the award-winning COMPAC While environmental protection was a key factor in standards that must meet the highest level of elastomeric polymer bearings, Thordon’s scope BOXSHIPS MARK EUROPEAN the decision to move away from oil-lubricated shaft compliance, so we are delighted that Thordon is of supply included a forward propeller shaft seal, systems, Lomar’s Technical Department remarked considered a trusted manufacturer of environmentally Thordon bronze shaft liners, ThorShield corrosion BREAKTHROUGH FOR that the long-term savings expected on operational safe solutions. Lomar selected COMPAC because of resistant shaft coating, a Thordon Water Quality THORDON BEARINGS expenditure are “very attractive”. While more the brand’s reputation, design reliability, zero impact Package and its Bearing Condition Monitoring expensive in terms of CAPEX, Lomar calculated on the marine environment and extended warranty.” (BCM) system. a lower total cost of ownership from the long term In recent years Lomar has undertaken an extensive savings offered by seawater lubrication, making it a newbuildings programme with orders for over 25 very cost-efficient alternative to stern tube oil-based sub-Panamax containerships and bulk carriers from systems. Chinese shipyards. Lomar sees a long-term trend across the shipping Terry McGowan, President and CEO, Thordon industry to implement solutions capable of reducing Bearings’, said: “We are delighted that Lomar the impact of operations on the environment and Shipping has incorporated COMPAC into the design seizes every opportunity to do the right thing for the and build of these super eco-friendly newbuilds. environment. The introduction of these latest, high The environmental benefits of seawater lubricated specification, fuel-efficient vessels is following this propulsion are, of course, well established, but the commitment. acceptance of Delaware Trader into the Lomar fleet The COMPAC system meets the most stringent now establishes the concept as the cost-effective environmental demands with seawater replacing oil propulsion solution.” as the lubricating medium. Lomar added: “We will evaluate cost efficiencies over Designed by China’s MARIC and built to DNV GL coming months to determine seawater lubricated class, the Super ECO 2700 vessels, are the first to systems for future newbuilds and for converting operate according to the classification society’s existing vessels. From an installation perspective, if stringent TMON requirement. This means they benefit you follow the manufacturer’s procedures it’s very from the same extended shaft withdrawal inspection straightforward.” COMPAC propeller shaft bearing with Delaware Trader, the first of two 2,700TEU newbuild periods as an oil-based system if certain monitoring Bearing Condition Monitor (BCM) System containerships that China’s Guangzhou Wenchong conditions are met. Shipyard is delivering to Lomar Shipping this year, With a hull form designed for maximum fuel- has been fitted with a seawater lubricated propeller efficiency, DNV GL’s RCP notation optimises reefer shaft bearing system from Thordon Bearings. container carriage in a way that further reduces The vessel represents another breakthrough for energy consumption. Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC seawater lubricated “This order is a significant breakthrough for seawater- propeller shaft bearing system in the European- lubricated stern tube systems not only in the shipping owned containership segment. industry but the containership segment as a whole,” London-headquartered Lomar Shipping, a privately- said Alexandros Alexandropoulos, Project Director, owned ship owning and management company, Technava, Thordon Bearings’ Greece-based operates a modern fleet of containerships, bulk distributor that worked with Lomar on the seawater- carriers, chemical and product tankers. based solution.

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 MOORING SYSTEM INSTALLATION HIGHLIGHTS THORDON’S Having a 12m (39.4ft.) diameter hull, the Calm Buoy can accommodate 4, 6 or 8 chain legs. An INCREASING RANGE OF BEARING APPLICATIONS innovative and compact 40t chain pulling winch is fitted, making the buoys easy and quick to install. The bearing installations to two Calm Buoys operating “Despite the delay, construction and commissioning Single or multi-path swivel stacks can also be fitted offshore Libya are indicative of the wide-range of went very well,” said Monobuoy’s Andrew Charlton. with utility swivels to power and control subsea valves. applications Thordon’s environmentally-safe bearing “We have used Thordon bearings on two or three systems have outside the company’s traditional projects in the past. There are not many suppliers of For each of the buoy’s chain stoppers Wenex maritime market. these types of bearings, but we find Thordon offers recommended 32 abrasion-resistant ThorPlas-Blue OCEAN_2G tidal energy platform bearings, due to their ability to pivot with the anchor A total of 48 bearings and bushings were supplied a more simplified design and is easier to work with. utilizing Thordon’s COMPAC bearings chain. Thordon also supplied 16 SXL entry chafe in 2014 for installation to the chain stoppers of When we have projects like this we tend to give bushings that were installed to provide a greater level One recent renewable energy project included the Monobuoy’s innovative 400t turntable Calm Buoys, Wenex a call to help during the design phase and of wear resistance to the anchor chain, while 32 SXL installation of Thordon bearings for the main turbine a single point mooring system designed to allow oil assist with the calculations.” thrust washers were supplied to help reduce the side- shafts of the 2MW OCEAN_2G tidal energy platform tankers to load and offload cargoes offshore, without Thordon’s authorized distributor in France, Wenex to-side motion of the Calm Buoy during inclement launched by Spain’s Mgallenes Renewables last having to berth alongside the refinery. However, the Equipements SA, calculated the load on each bearing, operating conditions. year in Vigo bay, Spain. ensuing Libyan conflict resulted in the project being a crucial element in optimising the design of the Calm postponed until late 2017, when they finally entered Buoys in line with the customer’s requirement. “There is a willingness with Thordon Bearings to work A specialised stainless steel cladding solution was service. with companies and come up with specific solutions chosen to protect the 600mm (23.622”) diameter for applications outside of the norm,” said Charlton. shaft, and Thordon’s COMPAC elastomeric polymer “We are very pleased with the technical support alloy bearings were selected to ensure the longest Thordon and Wenex provide.” possible life in an unpredictable and demanding open ocean environment. Benoit d’Alançon, Managing Director, Wenex, said: “This was an important project for us. Calm Bouy George Morrison, Thordon Bearings’ Regional projects like this are relatively rare in France, where Manager, said: “We are seeing increasing interest Thordon bearings tend to be specified for use in the from industrial sectors outside our core maritime renewable energy sector, subsea turbines and river markets, particularly the mining, offshore and dams. We are delighted that Monobuoy’s system is renewable energy sectors. Any rotating machinery now successfully operating offshore Libya.” can benefit both commercially and technically from our range of unique grease-free and water- lubricated polymer bearing solutions.”

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 POLYMER PIONEER GEORGE A. THOMSON WINS was supplying propeller shaft bearings to the Royal Thordon polymer materials have been used in Canadian Navy - Halifax class frigates, which had numerous other maritime applications, including PRESTIGIOUS ELMER A. SPERRY AWARD originally specified rubber bearings that turned out rudder bearings, deck machinery, dredger not meeting expectations. However, the products cutterhead bearings and floating production storage than any one individual. It is our material scientists, from Sandy’s newly-formed company – Thordon and offloading (FPSO) vessel turret and mooring technologists and engineers – some of the best in the Bearings Inc. – solved the problem. Since then over equipment – all offering easy installation, long life world – that must take all the credit.” 40 global Navies and Coast Guard fleets have and above all, because they require no oil or grease, Sandy is a native of Burlington, , Canada chosen Thordon’s COMPAC propeller shaft bearing any pollution risk is eliminated. and is the second Canadian to win this prestigious system. Based on the proven operating performance Sandy’s interests and involvement extend beyond award. He studied aircraft maintenance at Northrop on cruise ships, COMPAC bearings are now offered the maritime world. Having gained his pilot’s licence University in Inglewood, California and graduated with an unprecedented lifetime bearing wearlife at the age of 18, he could see opportunities for his as a mechanical engineer. After a brief stint working guarantee. polymer technology in the general aviation industry. for a Boston based mechanical seal manufacturer, He formed Marsh Brothers Aviation to provide aircraft he returned to Canada to join Thomson-Gordon Ltd, solutions, among them the AeroTough GF, a self- founded by his grandfather in 1911. lubricating polymer to replace greased nickel-bronze The prospect of producing engineered components To be the best demands bushings and ThorFlex elastomeric polymer seals. made from elastomers intrigued Sandy, so along a genuine commitment to Not only are these materials long-lasting and self- with Dr. Pande and Dr. Bill Allan they developed lubricating, they are cleaner and weigh significantly the Thordon polymer in the late 1960s. After several innovation, problem solving, less than the alternatives. All were developed and prototype bearings, the world’s first polymer alloy Sandy Thomson – Thordon’s Innovator and tested on Sandy’s own Aerostar aircraft. bearing was produced and installed in 1967 into a service and quality. 2019 Elmer A. Sperry Award Winner Sandy’s latest interest is in clean power generation. vertical pump, in partnership with a local steel plant, Thordon Bearings’ sister company, TG-DNALOP Thordon Bearings’ founder and polymer materials replacing traditional rubber bearings that typically pioneer George A. (Sandy) Thomson has been purchased a small hydro facility in Poland which is wore out within a few weeks. Sandy’s pioneering work in eliminating a major cause awarded the global transportation sector’s most acting as a demonstration site for Thordon’s water- Early on Sandy saw the potential for a wide variety of of ocean pollution – oil leaked from conventional distinguished accolade, the Elmer A. Sperry Award lubricated bearings and seals in a new generation of markets for the new polymer, and after the successful oil lubricated tailshafts – has prevented millions of 2019 for “Advancing the Art of Transportation”. Kaplan turbines for the renewables industry. installation in more vertical pump applications, the litres of oil leaking into the sea and rivers, protecting Sandy sums up his philosophy: “To be the best Sandy joins a long list of Sperry Award recipients, marine market on Lake Ontario seemed like the perfect marine ecology. which was established in 1955, including Donald demands a genuine commitment to innovation, place to test the bearing in horizontal applications. His work in the marine industry has extended beyond Douglas, Ferdinand Porsche, Sir Geoffrey De problem solving, service and quality. Our goal is to The world’s first Thordon water lubricated propeller just sea-going bearings – Thordon has developed Havilland, Christopher Cockerell, Leonard Hobbs, provide products and services that represent the best shaft bearing was installed on a tug the RiverTough bearing material to withstand the Perry Pratt, Josef Becker and Malcom McLean. possible value for our customers' needs.” owned by McKeil Marine in Hamilton in the late abrasive conditions typically encountered in the US The Elmer. A. Sperry award is given jointly by the “I am deeply honoured and humbled to win this 1970s. Today McKeil is the largest tug/barge owner inland waterways. He has also revisited his early American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, award, which I accept on behalf of everybody at on the Great Lakes and still a loyal customer 40 involvement in mechanical seals to develop a robust the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Thordon Bearings,” said Sandy. years later. tailshaft seal design – the SeaThigor for blue water the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of “To be presented with this prize is a testament to The advantages of Thordon polymers were quickly and the TG100 for abrasive water environments. Both Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American the talent and dedication of all those working adopted by ocean-going vessels, with hundreds of seal designs feature a unique inflatable emergency Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Society tirelessly within the company to develop safer, more ships, including cruise ships and container vessels seal that will allow the vessel to safely proceed, of Mechanical Engineers. environmentally-friendly solutions for all sectors installing Thordon seawater-lubricated polymer meaning the shaft can still turn with the seal in place of industry. It really is a collective effort rather tailshaft bearings. One significant breakthrough if the seal face ever get damaged.

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 CONTINUED USE OF OIL LUBRICATED SHAFT SEALS New York-based Environmental Research Consulting, systems, the outboard propeller shaft seals present a which found 240 million litres of operational oil is risk in that they are expected to fulfil two functions, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION leaked annually from ships. namely to prevent oil leaking out into the sea, and to prevent seawater from getting in and contaminating Media reports indicating the potential volume of of pollution,” said Craig Carter, Thordon Bearing’s Terry McGowan, President and CEO, Thordon the oil. If the seal fails there could be either an lubricating oil polluting the world’s seas and oceans Director of Marketing and Customer Service. Bearings, said: “While the list of vessels that have operational or an environmental problem… due to shaft seal damage or failure should send a Press releases issued by a well-known underwater polluted the oceans following damage to sterntube Water-lubricated sterntube solutions are emerging as clear message to Administrations that this frequently ship repair company reference the regularity in which seals is extensive, it is only a fraction of the number the sensible way to go’. We couldn’t agree more.” overlooked source of pollution needs to be quickly it carries out repairs to damaged seals. One recent of incidents taking place. The only certainty we addressed. report highlighted work carried out to a general have is that the amount of oil discharged into the marine environment from faulty or damaged seals In its evaluation of news clippings over the course cargo ship with a “leaking stern tube assembly”, is of significant environmental concern and should of the past few years, Thordon Bearings found more while another reported repairs to the damaged seals be addressed immediately by Administrations and than 100 references to “propeller shaft seal failure of a semi-submersible offshore platform in Mexico. regulators. And this doesn’t even include normal and oil leakage into the sea”, the most recent of Yet another reported repairs to a ship leaking oil in operational leakage from worn seals.” which was published in the June 2019 edition of Antwerp, after fishing nets had become entwined Tanker Operator magazine. around the seal assembly. When there are cost-effective, environmentally-safe alternatives available, it is understandable why This article reported a tanker leaking oil after the shaft “It’s all good business for underwater ship repair environmental concern abounds, especially given seals were damaged by rope becoming entangled companies, of course, but these problematic shaft the drive to reduce other forms of shipborne pollution. around the propeller shaft. The 3-lip seal had leaked seals, which account for 43% of all shaftline failures, oil into the sea before divers carried out emergency are not only impacting the marine environment but Indeed, based on the potential impact of this level repairs in Tenerife, Spain. also the shipowner’s bottom line,” said Carter. of oil pollution in its marine environment, the US EPA recommended that “all newbuild vessel operators “Regular reports in the maritime technical press and Based on its calculations, Thordon Bearings says that endeavour to use seawater-based systems for indeed from hull repair specialists themselves show every vessel that operates an oil-lubricated propeller their sterntube lubrication in order to eliminate the with alarming frequency that the aft seals of oil- shaft system configured with aft seal, could be discharge of oil from these interfaces to the aquatic lubricated shaft lines are damaged by either ropes leaking on average 6 litres (1.6 U.S gallons) per day environment”. The EPA has included this clause in its or fishing nets and wholly responsible for this source – a statistic backed up by research carried out by Vessel General Permit rules (sect. 2.2.9) since 2013. “The maritime industry’s continued use of these systems is counterproductive to the excellent work it is doing to clean up our seas with, for example, the introduction of mandatory legislation to reduce emissions, prohibit oily water discharges or prevent the spread of alien aquatic species. We now need regulations to stem the flow of oil leaking from a ship’s propeller shaft,” said Carter. Referring to an article published in July last year, Carter added: “Ship Insight magazine questioned the continued use of oil-lubricated propeller shafts in the environmentally-driven times in which we now find ourselves. The Editor wrote: ‘With oil lubricated

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 THORDON’S REVOLUTIONARY SEATHIGOR SHAFT SEAL THORDON’S COMPAC SYSTEM WINS SEATRADE CLEAN WINS INNOVATION AWARD SHIPPING AWARD Thordon Bearings’ revolutionary shaft seal SeaThigor “Both of these awards are indicative of the shipping Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC seawater-lubricated The COMPAC bearings system, which Thordon offers took home the Marine Propulsion Innovation Award industry’s increasing commitment to protecting our propeller shaft bearing system has won the coveted with a life-time wear-life guarantee, prevents the in May following the Riviera Maritime Media- marine eco-systems from unnecessary oil pollution, 2019 Seatrade Award for Clean Shipping, in recognition seepage of millions of litres of oil into the world’s organised awards and gala dinner, held this year in while optimising the performance and functionality of the technology’s capacity to eradicate completely oceans and reduces ship operating costs associated Amsterdam, the Netherlands. of shipboard systems and machinery. It is truly a operational oil pollution from ships’ stern tubes. with aft seals and lubricating oil. The annual technical awards recognise innovations sustainable solution for today’s cost conscious The Clean Shipping Award was presented by guest George Morrison, Thordon Bearings’ Area Sales across a range of marine engineering and technology shipowner.” of honour Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director, Manager, said: “To date, those owners that have sectors and are presented to those companies or SeaThigor won the award despite stiff competition British Antarctic Survey, during a gala evening this installed or retrofitted a seawater-lubricated propeller individuals that have developed a novel product, from nominees that included EPS Techno’s GSIRE week at London’s historic Guildhall. Dame Francis shaft bearing have prevented more than 60 million system or process that demonstrates an “imaginative system and Parker Kittiwake’s Attenuated Total has witnessed first-hand the effect anthropogenic litres (16 million U.S gallons) of stern tube oil from and effective solution to an engineering requirement”. Reflection Analyser. events can have on the environment. entering our oceans, seas, lakes and rivers. We hope Commenting on the accolade, Jeffrey Butt, Thordon’s A robust mechanical face seal, the Thordon SeaThigor Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Director of Marketing that by the end of this year we can report that the Business Development Manager – Marine, who is for water lubricated propeller shafts found in all and Customer Service, said: We are absolutely industry has saved more than 100 million litres.” collected the award, said: “For a maritime technology types of merchant and naval ships. In the event of thrilled that COMPAC has won this prestigious award The advancements now being made in marine systems company, winning the Innovation category of the a face failure of the primary seal, it incorporates a and equally delighted it was presented by Dame and technologies are expected to spur the further prestigious Marine Propulsion Awards is like winning secondary seal module to provide Safe Return To Francis. In these environmentally conscientious times, development of the zero-emission ship. However, Best Picture at the Oscars. We are absolutely Port capability. seawater-lubricated propeller shaft systems are now Thordon believes this can only be fully achieved once delighted to win this award.” “This unique feature is unlike other maintenance seal, as widely regarded as a vital component ion the fight to the oil-lubricated propeller shaft has been relegated Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings, Director of Marketing the propeller shaft can be rotated at reduced speeds reduce shipping’s impact on the marine eco-system. to history. and Customer Service, added: “The Marine allowing the vessel to make it safely to a repair facility Winning this award marks a significant milestone for Propulsion 2018 Award will be added to the Tanker under its own power, without causing further damage. seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems.” Shipping & Trade award for our COMPAC seawater- No other shaft seal on the market offers this feature as lubricated propeller shaft concept, received in 2015. a standard supply,” said Carter.

Jeffrey Butt, Thordon Bearings’ Sandy Thomson, onboard the Business Development Manager-Marine (left) Canadian Coast Guard Ship Hudson with receiving the Marine Propulsion Award SeaThigor Mechanical Face Seal installed.

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NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 NEWSWORKS - MARINE ISSUE 2019-1 Reduce Deck Equipment Maintenance Costs with ThorPlas-Blue Bearings.

ThorPlas-Blue is a maintenance free solution that is the ideal replacement for greased bronze bearings in your deck equipment. Our homogeneous polymer is lifetime lubricated and delivers superior and smooth performance without grease. Keep your equipment looking beautiful and clean with ThorPlas-Blue.

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Editor: Emma Gerard (Statements made and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers) Subscriber Information: A Thomson-Gordon Group Company - Innovating since 1911 Wish to subscribe to our NEWSWORKS via e-mail 3225 Mainway, Burlington, Ontario L7M 1A6 Canada or regular mail, or if your information has changed Tel: +1.905.335.1440 Fax: +1.905.335.4033 please contact our Marketing Department: [email protected] www.ThordonBearings.com [email protected]

Printed in Canada | October 2019