Thordon Bearings has recently introduced a 15-year bearing wear life guarantee for its COMPAC pollution free stern tube bearings. This move aims to demonstrate to commercial ship owners that modern seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems do offer wear life predictability, reduced operating costs and elimination of stern tube oil pollution risks. Thordon is offering this guarantee based on proven bearing wear life experience in commercial vessels over the last 20 years.

In newbuild applications, the Thordon COMPAC Propeller Shaft Bearing System is guaranteed to meet Classification Society wear specifications for 15 years or Thordon Bearings Inc. will supply new bearings free of charge. The bearing guarantee is targeted at commercial newbuild vessels with shaft diameters of 300mm (12”) or greater and COMPAC bearings enclosed in stern tubes.

In order to control the bearing environment, the COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system includes non-metallic COMPAC bearings, a Thordon Water Quality Package, shaft liners, Thor-Coat shaft coating and a forward seal. The improvements for ship owners using seawater lubricated COMPAC bearings include:

• Reduced operating costs (no aft seal and no oil required in stern tube)
• Proven performance and reliability
• Fitting and monitoring methods to meet Class Society approvals
• Zero pollution risk