Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Director of Marketing and Customer Service, addressed World Ocean Council members on the need to prevent 244 million litres of operational oil from leaking into oceans each year.
The representatives of international organisations, government agencies, industry and academia attending the World Ocean Council’s fourth Sustainable Ocean Summit last week were left in no doubt about the damage oil-lubricated propeller shaft systems are having on the marine environment.
In addressing more than two hundred SOS16 delegates, Craig Carter explained that the fleet of 45,000 ocean-going vessels that continue to operate oil-lubricated shaft bearings are estimated to be leaking the equivalent of five Exxon Valdez oil spills into the ocean year-on year.
Acknowledging the raft of environmental challenges shipowners are already faced with, he said that the shipping industry must decide whether ocean sustainability can really be achieved with the continued use of a system that discharges between 130 million and 244 million litres of operational oil into the ocean environment every year.
Falling short of calling for an outright ban on these systems, Carter said: “Shipowners have a decision to make – continue to use oil systems that have the potential to pollute and may not meet pollution regulations or return to seawater lubrication. Since we started installing seawater lubricated bearing systems in the early 1990s, we have prevented over 62 million litres of oil being discharged into our oceans and seas. A seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing system is the only system that guarantees compliance with all pollution regulations and has zero impact on environment. Isn’t it time we prevented propeller shaft discharges of oil from all commercial ships?”
In his presentation, Sustainable Practices from the Past Benefiting Shipowners and the Oceans, Carter informed World Ocean Council members about the history of the water-lubricated stern tube bearing system, a technology that has come on leaps and bounds from the problematic days of Lignum Vitae bearings and stuffing boxes.
“Polymer materials and bearing designs have advanced to ensure long life performance with very low operating costs. All of the major classification societies have now revised their shaft withdrawal and inspection regimes due to the new technology allowing full monitoring of a seawater system. The technology now offers the technical equivalent of an oil lubricated stern tube but without the risk of pollution and associated fines. Shipowners now have a viable, cost-effective option.”
Carter’s address on the final day of the four-day conference, which took place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, followed this year’s underlying theme Ocean 2030: Sustainable Development Goals and the Ocean Business Community.
The annual event brought together ocean industry leaders from shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, ports, mining, insurance, finance, renewable offshore energy, tourism, shipbuilding, marine technology and other industries.
Authoritative presentations were given on 15-year projections for 14 ocean business sectors, many of which were delivered by the heads of global industry associations, including UNESCO, the World Bank, IMO, WWF and the European Commission.
The results of the Ocean 2030 session will now feed into WOC and ocean business community efforts to address ocean sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, especially for SDG 14 on the Ocean.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of GREEN4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
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Born and raised in Newfoundland. Completed Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University, Canada in 1990. Joined an advertising agency in Ottawa as Director of Sales until 1992. Graduated with an MBA from Dalhousie University, Canada in 1994. In 1993, joined Acadian Seaplants Ltd. as Marketing Coordinator, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – a manufacturer of seaweed plant biostimulants, natural fertilizers and edible seaweeds for international markets.
In 1996, I joined the Thomson-Gordon Group of Burlington, Ontario, as Marketing Manager – managing corporate marketing for four business units: 1) air compressor supply and service, 2) mechanical seal manufacturing and distribution 3) business jet maintenance and avionics and 4) Thordon Bearings, a manufacturer of a complete range of environmentally friendly propeller shaft, rudder and shaftline products for the global marine market. Currently employed with Thordon Bearings in the position of Director of Marketing and Customer Service promoting non-polluting bearings for the marine, clean power generation and pump industries.
Specialties: International Marketing; Strategic Thinking; Marketing Communications; Brand Building and Team Building
