T-BOSS shaft solution for sterntubeless ship unveiled

(Posted on 08/09/24)

Representing a breakthrough in the evolution of a ship’s propeller shaft line, Canada’s Thordon Bearings has unveiled the Thordon-Blue Ocean Stern Space (T-BOSS), a new solution designed to meet the propeller shaft requirements of the sterntubeless ship design proposed by the Blue Ocean Alliance*.

Introduced to the global maritime industry today at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, Germany, the new T-BOSS propeller shaft arrangement includes Thordon’s award-winning COMPAC polymer bearing with tapered key set, Thordon Bearing Condition Monitoring system, a Wärtsilä Enviroguard shaft seal, and Thordon’s Water Quality Package.

Thordon’s Technical Director Anthony Hamilton said: “T-BOSS has been designed as a sterntubeless ship solution, which will replace the traditional sterntube system with a dry chamber, that will allow for the full range of inspection and maintenance activities for a seawater-lubricated single bearing and seal arrangement. These activities can be done while the vessel is afloat, thus avoiding the need for shaft withdrawal or drydocking. This has never before been possible.

“By creating an opening in the engine room bulkhead, adjusting stiffeners, shortening the intermediate shaft (allowing the main engine to be moved further aft), eliminating the sterntube, forward sterntube bearing and aft seal and installing the T-BOSS solution, shipbuilders can take advantage of reductions in material and labor costs, while ship operators benefit from significant OPEX savings. It is the most significant ship design intervention in more than a century.”

Aside from immediate savings in lubricating oil and elimination of the aft seal, shipowners opting for a T-BOSS sterntubeless ship could save more than US$1 million in through-life operational costs. This is based on reduced fuel consumption, reduced drydocking and maintenance costs, and associated loss of earnings; shaft alignment optimization, lower bearing wear rates, better EEDI; and a potential increase in cargo carrying capacity. The arrangement also reduces the risk of environmental fines related to sterntube oil pollution to zero.

Speaking during the T-BOSS launch at SMM, Dr. Chris Leontopoulos, Vice-President, Technology, EMEA, at ABS, a Blue Ocean Alliance partner, said that a T-BOSS ship’s simplicity of the arrangement, its maintenance, robustness and reduced environmental footprint, are astonishing. The design is fully ABS Rule compliant.”

Speaking at SMM, Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ VP Business Development, revealed it has submitted quotes for T-BOSS to major shipbuilders in China and South Korea, for boxships and gas carriers.

“Yards have been quick to see the commercial, operational and environmental advantages of a sterntubeless ship, compared to a design with a traditional oil-lubricated shaft line,” he said. “We have been asked to submit quotes for a number of newbuilds and anticipate orders soon.”

*The Blue Ocean Alliance is a consortium of industry partners – ABS, Thordon Bearings Inc, Wärtsilä, SDARI, and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) – that have collaborated to develop and promote the sterntubeless ship concept.

Latest News

75 Years young: Verstegen celebrates three quarters of a century of excellence

World leading manufacturer of rope operated mechanical grabs for the dry bulk industry, Verstegen Grijpers... Read more

LHM 600 supports evolving vessel demands at Cartagena terminal

A new operational reference point for Colombian ports. Compas has placed an LHM 600 into service... Read more

Ulstein Digital launches AI-powered MRV and NOx compliance tools

Ship operators face mounting pressure from environmental reporting, with crews and office staff spending... Read more

Partnership to deliver data-driven fleet insight primarily covers bulkers

Idwal, the global vessel assurance business, has partnered with Daiwa Kisen to deliver independent inspections... Read more

Berge Bulk trials new feedstock in a marine biofuel blend

Berge Lyngor, a 206,330 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carrier, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, has been bunkered... Read more

Collaboration on EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance support

OceanScore and Anglo-Eastern Univan Group are working together to support compliance with the European... Read more

New interactive format will streamline passage planning for mariners

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has launched ADMIRALTY Digital Sailing Directions (ADSD), transforming... Read more

Damen announces expansion of Combi Freighter series

Damen Shipyards Group has announced the expansion of its successful Combi Freighter (CF) series. Based... Read more

HHI and BAR Technologies sign MoU for WindWings collaboration

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and BAR Technologies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU... Read more

AI on operators’ radar as tech innovations take centre stage at Posidonia

Posidonia 2026 proved to be the industry’s most technologically charged edition to date &mdash... Read more