Extensive sea trials aboard Greenland, the world’s first LNG-fuelled short-sea dry bulk vessel, have validated the performance of Thordon Bearings COMPAC propeller shaft solution
Tommy Holmgren, Sales Director with the Duwel Group, Thordon Bearings’ distributor in Sweden, said: “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, a 5800dwt self-loading/unloading cement carrier built under the EU-TEN-T funded Pilot LNG project for the JT Cement joint venture, is the first ever LNG-fuelled dry cargo vessel in which a pressurised liquid natural gas tank is incorporated into the vessel’s hull. It is also the first LNG-fuelled vessel to feature a seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system.
Ola Persson, Technical Manager, Erik Thun Group, said: “With environmental sustainability being the main consideration in the operation of all our vessels, equipment performance and reliability is imperative.”
Thordon Bearings’ Head of Marketing and Customer Service, Craig Carter, said: “We are immensely proud to be associated with this ground-breaking vessel. Erik Thun and its joint venture partners have created what is probably Europe’s most environmentally-friendly ship. LNG as a ship’s fuel is by far the most environmental-friendly fuelling solution available today which, like the use of a seawater lubricated shaft bearings, exceeds current environmental criteria.”
Source & Image Credit : Thordon Bearings
