China Classification Society Rule Change "Favours Water-Based Lubes"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday October 7, 2015

Canada-based Thordon Bearings Inc (Thordon Bearings) says that China Classification Society's (CCS') new monitoring rules favour seawater lubricated propellors, by boosting inspections requiring shaft withdrawal to every 15 years from the previous 5, providing certain monitoring conditions are met.

"Changes to classification society rules represent a significant breakthrough for manufacturers of water-lubricated shaft bearing systems," said Andy Edwards, Commercial Director at Thordon Bearings.

"A major stumbling block to the wider take-up of the more environmentally efficient seawater-lubricated system has been the requirement to withdraw the shaft for inspection every five years. So the changes are very welcome as they are more representative of the advancements made in polymer bearing technologies and corrosion-resistant shaft coating systems."

CSS' revised rules state that specific shaft condition and monitoring protocols have to be met annually in order to obtain the extended period before shaft withdrawal.

"We expect the revision will be highly welcomed by those shipowners looking to comply with the stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency vessel general permit (VGP) regulations, which are now in force to impose strict limits on operational oil discharges for vessels operating in U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes," added Edwards.

Fellow classification societies Lloyd's Register and Bureau Veritas S.A. are said to have published updated SCM and MON-SHAFT rules in January 2013 and January 2014, respectively, while DNV GL is planning to publish new rules in 2016.

"With classification societies now changing their shaft condition monitoring rules in view of the technological advancements we have made over recent years, we expect more shipowners will see merit in converting from oil to seawater-lubricated systems," said Craig Carter, Head of Marketing and Customer Service at Thordon Bearings.

In July, it was reported that MSC Cruises agreed to install a water-lubricated propeller shaft system built by Thordon Bearings aboard the first of two new cruise ships currently under construction.