IMPA EventsSailors SocietyTBA GroupTMS Awards 2023Port of South LouisianaVigan
  • Port of Stockton
  • Port of South Louisiana
  • Cimbria
  • TOC Europe 2023
  • TOC Europe 2023
  • Sailors Society

Thordon’s new dry cargo vessels market for ThorPlas-Blue bearings

Thordon’s new dry cargo vessels market for ThorPlas-Blue bearings

(Posted on 11/04/23)

In what marks a relatively new application for Thordon Bearings’ pioneering polymer material, Wilson Ship Management AS (“Wilson”), a Norway-based ship manager, has replaced the greased bronze bearings on the hatch cover wheels of some of its dry cargo vessels with self-lubricating ThorPlas-Blue bearings.

Wilson, which operates Europe’s largest short sea fleet of about 130 general cargo vessels, has now converted eight vessels following the success of the first retrofit three years ago.

Tommy Holmgren, Sales Director, Duwel Group – Thordon Bearings’ authorized distributor in Norway – explained, “Wilson was not aware at first that the Wilson Wisla, which was purchased in 2019, was already operating with Thordon bearings in this application, but when they discovered it was Thordon, they ordered more for other Wilson vessels. To date, we have retrofitted ThorPlas-Blue bearings to the hatch cover wheels on a further seven vessels.”

Retrofits to Wilson Weser took place in 2020 and further installations to Wilson Borg, Wilson Leith, Wilson Tees, Wilson Alster, Wilson Goole, and Wilson Monsoon all took place in 2022 during scheduled drydockings.

“The ship manager is closely monitoring performance but so far, the feedback is very positive. We anticipate increased interest for ThorPlas-Blue in this application,” confirmed Holmgren.

ThorPlas-Blue is commonplace in ships’ deck machinery, such as fairleads, winches, and lifeboat davit bearings, but as the material can withstand much higher pressures, hatch cover bearings are deemed an important and beneficial application.

Typically, a hatch cover’s wheel spindles, cleat spindles, hinge pins, hydraulic cylinder protective sheaths, cleat wedges, drive chain sprockets, toothed rack, and cylinder spherical bearings need to be properly greased at least once a month. This time consuming and messy operation is carried out to ensure hatch covers open and close smoothly and to prevent damage to cargo during loading and unloading. ThorPlas-Blue removes the greasing requirement.

With ocean sustainability and responsible shipping now very much on the regulatory agenda, Thordon Bearings’ environmentally focused products are being specified as part of a tranche of solutions and measures to reduce the environmental impact of operations. This successful application will open significant opportunities for Thordon and its ThorPlas-Blue line of self-lubricating bearings.

ThorPlas-Blue was developed as a maintenance-free solution to replace bronze bearings and to remove the need for grease in ship deck equipment. The elastomeric polymer material is designed to withstand pressures up to 45MPa (6,527 psi), though installation experience suggests the material can withstand much higher loads.

Anthony Hamilton, Thordon Bearings’ Technical Director, said: “By replacing traditional greased bronze bearings with ThorPlas-Blue, ship operators and managers benefit both environmentally and commercially. There is a zero-grease requirement and wear rates improve dramatically. The self-lubricating properties of the Thordon material mitigates against the risk of hatch cover failure due to bearing seizure, so you do see reduced repair and maintenance costs.”

Latest News

Human presence in navigation is vital despite digitalisation

(Posted on 05/06/23)

Digitalisation can only go so far in protecting safe navigation in busy shipping lanes with human involvement... Read more


New Inmarsat report provides blueprint for maritime decarbonisation

(Posted on 05/06/23)

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, and a world leader in global, mobile satellite communications,... Read more


Zuidnatie raises capacity with Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 MHC

(Posted on 02/06/23)

Belgian logistics and transportation company Zuidnatie NV ordered their first Generation 6 Konecranes... Read more


Framo pumping systems selected for Norwegian Centre for Ocean Technology

(Posted on 31/05/23)

Norwegian government agency Statsbygg has awarded Framo the development contract to supply pump systems... Read more


Wärtsilä lab engine for SIMAC to support skills development

(Posted on 30/05/23)

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a contract to deliver a Wärtsilä 20 ... Read more


Siwertell unloader ordered for multi-material handling in Senegal

(Posted on 23/05/23)

Bruks Siwertell has secured an order from Senegal Minergy Port SA (SMP) for a high-capacity Siwertell... Read more


ISO Limited and Liebherr advance New Zealand timber

(Posted on 17/05/23)

To support the sizeable lumber industry in New Zealand, Liebherr Maritime Cranes has worked with ISO... Read more


BWMS success helps DESMI reach new heights

(Posted on 14/05/23)

The Desmi Group’s general assembly has approved the year end result for 2022 – record-high... Read more


EMS-Tech expands reach in Europe with new Netherlands office

(Posted on 06/05/23)

EMS-Tech, a leading provider of custom designed bulk material handling systems, has opened a new office... Read more


Wärtsilä partners with DNV’s Veracity to streamline Anglo-Eastern’s reporting

(Posted on 02/05/23)

Technology group Wärtsilä and DNV’s industry cloud platform Veracity have entered a... Read more


Port of StocktonCoaltrans Asia 2023Bühler GmbHVan AalstTOC Europe 2023Telestack
  • TBA Group
  • Coaltrans Asia 2023
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Telestack

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping