Cruise Newbuilds Feature Seawater Lubrication
The Viking Star, a47, 800GTcruise ship, is one of three Viking Ocean Cruises’ newbuilds to opt for Thordon COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings. Constructed at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, the 944-passenger Viking Star is the first of three new ships equipped with seawater lubricated propeller shafts instead of oil lubrication.
Richard Goodwin, Vice President-Engineering at Viking Ocean Cruises, said, “We chose Thordon COMPAC for all our newbuildings because of the long experience of these seawater lubricated bearings which present no risk of oil pollution. With the elimination of aft seal maintenance and no oil required, we are expecting considerable cost savings over the life of the vessels.”
The Viking Star has a Thordon COMPAC tapered key bearing design with a shaft size of 464mm (18.268”). Thordon said its pollution-free bearings offer zero risk of oil discharges, as no oil is used, furthermore eliminating the need for an aft seal. Seawater is taken from the sea, pumped through the bearings, and returned back to the sea. This results in lower in-service maintenance costs, the elimination of storage, sampling and disposal of oils and meets all U.S. EPA Vessel General Permit requirements.
Viking’s ocean ships also feature energy-efficient hybrid engines, hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hulls and bows for maximum fuel efficiency, onboard solar panels and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution.