Thordon Bearings’ Egyptian supplier as well as incorporated providers Nefertiti Marine has actually appointed the water lubed Thordon SXL prop shaft bearings mounted aboard the 24,112 gt ferryboat Daleela.
The 1991-built, 400-passenger ability RoPax, possessed by El-Etehad International as well as hired to Scandro Holdings, started procedures on the revitalized Piraeus–Limassol path in June 2022 adhering to a considerable refit in the drifting dock run by the Suez Shipyard in Egypt.
Nefertiti Marine provided a total amount of 14 Thordon SXL ahead, intermediate, as well as aft bearings machined to fit prop shaft sizes of 525mm (20.6 in) as well as 530mm (20.8 in). The initial rubber prop shaft bearings had actually totally broken, going beyond the optimum clearances permitted by 5 as well as 7mm (0.19 as well as 0.27 in).
According to Karim Abd El Karim, Engineering Manager, Nefertiti Marine, “there were no visible cooling grooves in some areas of the rubber bearing due to the excessive wear”.
El-Etehad’s choice to change the rubber prop shaft bearings with the SXL elastomeric product adhered to the success of a comparable installment to the proprietor’s 1993-built sistershipAmal Suez Shipyard transformed the vessel’s initial bronze tail bearings to SXL in 2021.
El Karim claimed, “The owner was familiar with the environmental benefits of a propeller shaft bearing lubricated by seawater but wanted a more cost-effective, low maintenance solution capable of reducing time in drydock. Compared to a traditional rubber bearing system, an SXL bearing has a much longer wear life and, in this case, doubled the time between drydockings. We worked closely with the shipyard on this project and completed commissioning in early June.”
Awny Gad, Engineering Superintendent, El Etehad International, claimed, “It was important to have a bearing system proven to reduce the high operational expenditure associated with traditional rubber bearings. When Nefertiti Marine put forward the SXL solution, we were keen to try it. So far, we are very satisfied with the performance of the Thordon material and the 24/7 customer service we receive from Nefertiti.”
Prior to Daleela’s history-making trip, the last ferryboat to run the 30-hour path in between Greece as well as Cyprus was the Salamis Star in October 2001.
Craig Carter, VP Business Development, Thordon Bearings, claimed, “We are immensely proud to have been involved in this project, which marks the revival of a maritime link between Greece and Cyprus after more than twenty years.”
Daleela cruises from Piraeus to Limassol every Tuesday as well as Friday with the return going across on Wednesdays as well as Sundays.
