Fincantieri Orders Water Lubricated Propeller Shaft Bearings Again for Princess Cruises Newbuild

For Immediate Release - October 2004

Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA has ordered Thordon COMPAC propeller shaft bearing systems for a new cruise ship (Hull No. 6100) being built for Princess Cruises at the Monfalcone Shipyard in Italy for 2006 delivery. This will be the seventh Princess Cruises vessel fitted with water lubricated COMPAC bearings since the first installation in 1998 on Grand Princess.

Thordon Bearings is supplying its unique Single Key Design Bearings for the twin screw vessel. The tapered Single Key Design allows the bearings to be easily withdrawn from the bronze carrier, inspected and re-installed with the shaft still in place. The COMPAC elastomeric polymer alloy bearings for the 642mm (25 in.) diameter propeller shafts are designed to promote hydrodynamic operation at low shaft speeds and provide long wear life. A source of seawater will be provided to the bearings to ensure sufficient flow for bearing lubrication and cooling for this pollution free propeller shaft bearing system.

By completely eliminating oil from the stern tube, Thordon's COMPAC system ensures there is no risk of pollution or subsequent environmental violations that could result from stern tube oil leakage, however small.

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