Royal Netherlands Navy Chooses Thordon Seawater Lubricated Propeller Shaft Bearings

For Immediate Release - December 1, 2008

Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Vlissingen, Netherlands will fit Thordon seawater lubricated COMPAC propeller shaft bearings to four Patrol Vessels that will be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

With a 30 year history of supplying seawater lubricated bearings to many of the world’s navies, the Thordon COMPAC bearing system offers excellent operational and wear performance, reduced breakaway torque, low acoustic signature, ease of maintenance and survivability (non-catastrophic failure mode).  The COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system specified for these vessels feature the split tapered key design, where the bearings can be removed, inspected and reinstalled in just a few hours with the shaft still in place.

COMPAC systems are currently in use by the world’s leading navies and coast guards, including the Argentinean Navy, Australian Navy, Brazilian Navy, Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, Danish Navy, German Navy, Hellenic Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Korean Navy, Malaysian Navy, New Zealand Navy, South African Navy, Swedish Navy, Royal Thai Navy, Turkish Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and many others.  Campbell Cunningham, Thordon’s European Area Manager says, “Our experience with Navy and Coast Guard ships continue to prove that Thordon bearings provide low operating costs, long life and increased propulsion system reliability.”