SHAFTING

Shaft
• Crankshaft
• Thrust shaft
• Intermediate shaft/s
• Tail shaft (propeller shaft)
Shaft couplings / coupling holding
mechanism
• Shaft with flanges / muff couplings
• Parallel / tapered shank fitted bolts , morgrip
bolts
Shaft supporting mechanism:

• Main bearings
• Thrust block
• Intermediate bearing assembly
• Plummer block bearing
• Stern bush ( forward & aft respectively)
 Stern tube:
• Stern tube arrangement
• Lubrication system
• Details of sealing arrangement
• Oil lubricated stern tube bearings & tailshaft
• Inspection / repair of seals

Shafting:
• Operational problems / repair
• Methods of checking shaft
 Arrangement of shafting with stern seal
Main bearing Fly wheel Aft peak tank
Plummer
block
Thrust block Intermediate bearing Stern tube
Detuner bearing

Stern
bush
Flange Thrust shaft Flange Stern seals
Crankshaft
coupling coupling
Propeller shaft

Intermediate shafting
See Page 1
SHAFTING
Functions :

• Transmit power (torque) – main engine to propeller

• Transmit propeller thrust to hull – moving the vessel
• Support the propeller
• Withstand running load and vibrations
Transmission of propeller thrust
Ahead Thrust
Forces acting on the Compressive force
shafts ?

Tensile force
Astern thrust Other forces ?

Main Engine

Thrust taken by thrust collar to thrust pad to

thrust block and distributed to ship’s structure
See Page 2
Inherent forces :
• Sagging/hogging of shaft
• Rough weather
• Propeller natural induced vibration

Others:
• Misalignment of shafts
• Engine out of balance – units unequal power output
• Failure of lubrication system
• Speed in critical zone
• Low speed – lack of hydrodynamic lubrication
• Slacken bolts/nuts – engine foundation ,shaft couplings
• Partial submerge of propeller
• Etc..
What is a stern tube ?
Oil Lubricated Stern Tube Arrangement

Forward
stern tube
seal

Stern
frame

Aft stern
tube seal Stern tube Plummer
block bearing
Forward
stern bush

Aft stern
bush

Courtesy of Simplex Marine Services Pte Ltd

 Aft Sealing Arrangement Forward Sealing Arrangement

Aft peak bulkhead

O ring Chrome steel

Chrome steel
liner
liner

Cooling circulation

Oil return
Stern frame Aft peak tank Aft peak bulkhead
Split rope guard
Vent
Propeller Forward seal
Oil bath Forward bearing
Aft seal liner Oil channel
Tailshaft

Oil supply to
O ring
forward seal
Oil supply
Aft seal assembly

Oil Lubricated Stern Tube Arrangement

Rope guard Propeller
 Header tank

Stern tube
LO Cooler
Forward seal
header tank
Aft seal Forward
Aft seal seal
liner liner

Pumps

Forward seal
Aft stern tube Forward Strainers
bearing / bush stern tube
bearing /
bush

STERN TUBE COOLING SYSTEM

Sump tank

Typical arrangement : one header tank for vessels with

small change in draft
LO pressure : 0.15 - 0.30 kg/cm2 higher than SW pressure See Page 3
Oil lubricated stern tube sealing arrangement
Oil return from
#3 / #3S
(normally open)
V3

Stern tube
lube oil
gravity tank

V1
Oil tank for V4
#2 / #3 Oil supply
chamber valve #3 / 3S
V5
chamber
Forward seal (normally
header tank open)
To bilges

V2
#1 #2 #3 #3S #4 #5 To collecting
line

See Page 9
Examples of stern tube lube oil system
Oil return from
#3 / #3S
(normally open)
V3

Stern tube
lube oil
Header tank
gravity tank

V1
Oil tank for V4
#2 / #3 Oil supply
chamber valve #3 / 3S
V5
chamber
Forward seal (normally Stern tube
header tank LO Cooler
open) Forward seal
header tank
To bilges Aft seal Forward
Aft seal seal
liner liner

V2
#1 #2 #3 #3S #4 #5 To collecting
Pumps
line
Forward seal
Aft stern tube Forward Strainers
bearing / bush stern tube
bearing /
bush

STERN TUBE COOLING SYSTEM

Sump tank
Stern tube Questions & Answers :

Common forms of seal failures :

Loss of garter spring tension.

Scoring of liner leading to wear down
Contamination of lubricating oil
Insufficient cooling – high temperature of cooling oil
Abnormally high differential pressure – distortion/rupture of seal
Prolong use of seal – aging
Cantilever loading – partial submerge of propeller
Excessive vibration – engine out of balance , critical zone
 Oil return from
#3 / #3S
(normally open)
V3

Stern tube
lube oil
gravity tank

V1
Oil tank for V4
#2 / #3 Oil supply
chamber valve #3 / 3S
V5
chamber
Forward seal (normally
header tank open)
To bilges

V2
#1 #2 #3 #3S #4 #5 To collecting
line

• Under normal condition, seal activated through #3 sealing ring.

(valve V3 & V4 normally open)
• If leakages take place, shut V3 & V4 respectively - #3S is activated
• Pipeline connection to oil tank for chamber #2 & #3 seal – prevent
oil loss into seawater
sea water ingress into stern tube by draining into collection tank

If #3 & #3S sealing rings are both damaged, stern tube static oil pressure
to be lowered as shown using temporary oil tank & vinyl hose.
oil loss due to seal failure can be restricted while on passage
V3
(shut)

Stern tube
From #3 / #3S lube oil
chamber gravity
tank
From
sterntube
V4
(shut)

Temporary To #3 / #3S
lubricating oil chamber
tank

Vinyl hose

To stern tube
• Aft & forward sterntube sealing
arrangement
 Poker Gauge

Seal ring housing

Shaft
Shaft

Sealing ring liner