When a 9,280hp workboat returned to service following extensive repairs at the James Marine Paducah River Service yard in Kentucky, U.S.A., it marked the first application of Thordon’s new seal-embedded bearing to an articulating rudder, Thordon Bearings said Monday.
Articulating rudders
Articulating rudders are unlike conventional rudders and can be more costly to repair when things go wrong. They are more susceptible to wear and tear, due to the higher operating pressures and abrasives, and as a result, require a more robust bearing and seal solution, Thordon Bearings explains.
For one marine transportation service provider in the United States, however, a key requirement was a grease-free bearing capable of increasing the intervals between dry dockings and reducing operational costs, Thordon Bearings said.
To meet the requirement, Thordon Bearings says, Thordon engineers recommended a bearing using the company’s proven ThorPlas-Blue material, a better material for articulating types of rudders, and integrating a Thordon lip seal into the design.
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Source: Marine Link
