Thordon Propeller Shaft Bearing Wear Life Projected to Exceed 10 Years for Disney Magic and Grand Princess

For Immediate Release - January 25,2001

Recent bearing wear measurements taken from the propeller shaft bearings for Disney Magic in December 2000 and Grand Princess in August 2000 have shown that the water lubricated Thordon COMPAC bearings are expected to last over 10 years.

The prop shaft bearings of the cruise ship, Disney Magic, were removed, inspected and reinstalled with the shaft and bronze carriers still in place during a recent scheduled dry docking at NORSHIPCO, Virgina, USA. Clearance measurements taken were verified with an average increase in clearance of 0.85mm (0.033") during the 30 months service to date.

"These results are in line with our expectations," commented Jeffrey Butt, Thordon Bearings Marine Product Manager. "Based on the wear performance to date, the original set of bearings on the Disney Magic should have a service life of over 13 years before exceeding the maximum clearances for water lubricated bearings recommended by Class Societies. After a slightly shorter service period, we are seeing similar wear numbers on the P&O cruise vessel, Grand Princess," Jeffrey noted. "The clearance increase recorded was 0.90mm (0.035") resulting in a projected service life of 12 years. Typically, we expect 10 to 12 year wear life from a Thordon COMPAC bearing system in commercial blue water operation. These numbers certainly confirm our expectations," said Jeffrey.

Thordon pollution free COMPAC propeller shaft bearings are also specified on three Grand Princess follow-on ships being built by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA of Italy.