Bühler GmbHCimbriaViganTelestackSailors SocietyPort of Stockton
  • Port of South Louisiana
  • Cimbria
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Sailors Society
  • Port of Stockton
  • Telestack

Thordon save owners' costs on Mississippi

Thordon save owners' costs on Mississippi

(Posted on 22/05/20)

The final vessel in a series of five ship-assist tugs has been successfully converted to Thordon’s RiverTough tailshaft bearings and TG100 shaft seals and has returned to work on the Mississippi River.

These five tugs are considered to be the first ship-assist tugs operating in the lower Mississippi fitted with both RiverTough bearings and TG100 seals.

The New-Orleans-based tug operator converted its first vessel – a 117ft (35m), 4200hp twin-screw ship-assist tug – in 2015 to reduce the operating and maintenance costs associated with traditional rubber tailshaft bearings and clad welded journals.

According to Thordon Bearings’ Sales Manager, Jim Bright, who was involved in all five retrofits, the owner specified the solution because it was tired of unbudgeted costs following frequent premature bearing and shaft wear. The owner was familiar with the reputation of RiverTough bearings and its performance on other workboats.

“Their previous arrangements of rubber bearings had to be replaced every two years or so and the shafts needed to be repaired due to excessive wear. This can be avoided with Thordon’s products,” said Bright.

When RiverTough bearings are used by workboats, they routinely provide wear rates of 0.003" to 0.004" (0.075mm to 0.100mm) in 6000 to 7000 hours of annual use on the Mississippi River.

This upgrade was the first ship-assist tug in the New Orleans Port to change over to Thordon.

"We proposed retrofitting the RiverTough tailshaft bearing in conjunction with a ThorSleeve hardened shaft sleeve, and a TG100 shaft seal. This is a much more suitable shafting solution for vessels operating in abrasive rivers like the Mississippi,” Bright stated.

However, during discussions with the owner it emerged that a different installation method was required.

The traditional approach of casting Chockfast (an epoxy resin) directly to the outside diameter of the bearing meant that the Chockfast resin had to be chiseled out each time the existing rubber bearing needed replacing.

A new rubber bearing would have to be installed every 18-24 months. The bearing would have to be aligned and new Chockfast cast around them. This added to the time that the vessel was docked for repairs which in turn meant additional costs. When you factor the lost charter work into the equation, this process can be very costly for the ship owner.

Thordon’s solution was to create a permanent housing using the Chockfast epoxy grout.

Latest News

Naples cargo operator invests in energy-efficient Konecranes Gottwald MHC

(Posted on 01/05/25)

Magazzini Generali Silos Frigoriferi (MGSF), part of the Klingenberg Group, has ordered a Konecranes... Read more


FuelEU Maritime compliance strategy is commercial priority, says OceanScore

(Posted on 28/04/25)

FuelEU Maritime represents a strategic headache for shipping companies on the same level as its technical... Read more


Wärtsilä upgrade to deliver emissions savings for Ulusoy bulk carriers

(Posted on 22/04/25)

Technology group Wärtsilä will upgrade the Wärtsilä RT-flex main engines... Read more


Steelpaint secures major order for application on 39 bulk vessels

(Posted on 22/04/25)

German coatings firm Steelpaint GmbH has secured a major order to supply its specialist Stelpant... Read more


BAR Technologies' WindWings a practical solution

(Posted on 15/04/25)

In the wake of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee... Read more


Orderbook for all dry-bulk vessel classes falls by 26% Y-o-Y in Q1

(Posted on 15/04/25)

Global economic uncertainty and a cooling of the market has seen newbuild orders for dry-bulk vessels... Read more


Alfa Laval expands its portfolio with NRG Marine acquisition

(Posted on 03/04/25)

Alfa Laval has completed the acquisition of UK-based NRG Marine, a leading provider of ultrasonic anti... Read more


MBF and ZESTA MoU to accelerate zero-emission shipping

(Posted on 03/04/25)

In a landmark moment for the global maritime industry, the Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) and the Zero... Read more


Bruks Siwertell Group announces leadership transition

(Posted on 31/03/25)

Bruks Siwertell Group has announced a leadership transition as Peter Jonsson steps down as CEO after... Read more


ClassNK issues AiP for OceanWings Rigid Windsail Type WAPS

(Posted on 31/03/25)

ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a Rigid Windsail Type Wind-Assisted Propulsion... Read more


Van AalstTBA GroupGeneva DryPort of South LouisianaTMS Awards 2023
  • Van Aalst
  • Geneva Dry

Subscribe to our newsletter

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