VESSELS & EQUIPMENT
THORDON BEARINGS SIGNS MULTI-VESSEL AGREEMENT Thordon Bearings has signed a deal that includes supply of water-lubricated and grease-free bearings for a fleet of newbuilds Supply is for several fleet boats under construction at the FMT Shipyard & Repair facility in Louisiana, USA, for workboat owner Maritime Partners. David DiSalvo, owner of DiSalvo Marine, independent contractor for Thordon Bearings, said: ”Maritime Partners has optimised its boat charter business by opting for two different engine packages on these new fleet boats. Both engine options meet the latest US EPA requirements. “Now with the addition of the Thordon products, the company has upped their game with environmentally friendly vessels that will offer longevity and low maintenance that its customers will also value for many years.” Green considerations Twelve twin-screw push boats are scheduled to be delivered from the Louisiana-based yard with equipment that includes RiverTough tailshaft bearings, ThorPlas-Blue rudder bearings with Pucker Seals, ThorPlas-Blue steering linkage bushings, SXL thrust washers and TG100 tailshaft seals.
Now with the addition of the Thordon products, the company has upped their game with environmentally friendly vessels that will offer longevity and low maintenance that its customers will also value for many years Founded in 2015, Maritime Partners owns a fleet of 1,600 inland river vessels operated under bareboat charter. The new vessels, however, will be the company’s first newbuilds to feature a complete portfolio of Thordon technology following the success of individual installations aboard existing tonnage.
“As a leading provider of maritime assets and a founding member of the BlueSky Maritime Coalition, we have a commitment to and a responsibility for environmentallysustainable maritime operations. The application of technical solutions that deliver absolutely zero environmental risk is a no-brainer for us,” said Austin Sperry, co-founder and president, Maritime Partners. While environmental considerations and the reduced OPEX associated with Thordon equipment were obvious deal makers, the determining factor came when Sperry learnt that Sandy Thomson, Thordon Bearings’ founder and innovator, was a recipient of the award given in the name of his great, great grandfather, the gyrocompass inventor, Elmer Sperry. In 2019, George (Sandy) Thomson was presented with the Elmer A Sperry Award for Advancing the Art of Transportation, one of the highest accolades given for an individual’s contribution to transportation engineering. Jim Bright, territory sales manager, Thordon Bearings, said: “It is fantastic to see this real, physical connection between the maritime industry, Elmer Sperry and the spirit of the award. When Austin met Sandy, it was a meeting of minds. They share the same environmental vision. They both recognise the role maritime industries have to play in finding tangible, meaningful solutions to the climate change problem.”
8 Thordon’s RiverTough tailshaft system
Keel-cooled engine unveiled at Nor-Shipping A keel-cooling system launched at the NorShipping event last week obviates the need for salt water in the engine. The C16 600 Keel Cooling system, by NPT Industrial and its partner and distributor Frydenbø Industri, is positioned along the keel or incorporated into the hull itself, which means it is always in contact with the water. In this way the system can dissipate the engine’s heat and cool it without circulating salt water in the engine – which can corrode it and damage the seawater filter and impeller.
46 | MAY 2022
It is designed to cool engines that typically operate in sandy, muddy and shallow water. The firms say the system is ideal for push and tug boats, ferries, dredgers and commercial fishing vessels that operate in brown waters, inland waterways and harbours. “We aim to offer a wider customer base all the benefits of this solution that guarantees reduced downtime with clear financial and operational advantages to professionals working in particular operating areas,” said Fabio Rigon, FPT Industrial Vice President Europe.
8 C16 600 Keel Cooling from NPT Industrial
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