Recent sea trials have performance validated the simultaneous use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil-free propeller shaft lubrication on a ship.
This marks an industry milestone as it is the first time that a seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing system has been validated for use on a LNG-fuelled ship.
The Greenland, a 5,800 DWT short sea dry bulk ship owned by Erik Thun Group features both a pressurised LNG tank incorporated into the ship’s hull and Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing system.
The successful integration of both LNG as a fuel source and the COMPAC solution makes Greenland a reference for other ship owners looking to reduce their fleet’s environmental impacts.
Ola Persson, Technical Manager, Erik Thun Group, commented:“With environmental sustainability being the main consideration in the operation of all our vessels, equipment performance and reliability is imperative.”
Tommy Holmgren, Sales Director with the Duwel Group, Thordon Bearings’ distributor in Sweden, added: “Erik Thun has truly raised the standard in sustainable shipping with this vessel, pushing the boundaries of environmental possibilities to a completely new level.
Greenland is a fantastic reference point not only for COMPAC in the merchant ship market, but also for the development of LNG as a ship’s fuel.”
Greenland completed the sea trials in December prior to taking her first operational load in Rostock, Germany.
