RiverTough Tailshaft Bearing

Thordon Bearings said its RiverTough tailshaft bearing solution surpassed 500 installations in the workboat sector. Primarily a retrofit solution but also increasingly specified for newbuilds, RiverTough is designed for coastal and inland waterways, where conditions are typically muddy and abrasive. The solution, applied in combination with hard-coated nickel-chrome-boron (NiCrB) Thordon shaft sleeves, has been verified as outlasting rubber bearings by a factor of two or more in the harshest operating environments. Workboat operators serving the Mississippi River, U.S.A., have reported wear rates of just 0.07–0.1 mm (0.003–0.004 inches) over 6,000–7,000 hours of annual use.

RiverTough’s resilience is designed to cut maintenance and yield cost savings over the vessel lifecycle. Uptake has been particularly strong in the U.S., where two strategically located warehouses – in New Orleans (LA), and Paducah (KY) – have facilitated over 400 installations to date. Accounting for over 60 more, South America is another strong market for RiverTough.

As well as lasting longer, RiverTough is easier to machine, install, and align than rubber bearings. Its length-to-diameter (L/D) ratio of 3:1 results in superior water flow and reduced edge loading when compared with the 4:1 L/D ratio of rubber bearings.

Aquarius Stabilizers for Chesapeake Newbuilds

Kongsberg Maritime is continuing its 15-year partnership with Chesapeake Shipbuilding through the supply of its Aquarius retractable stabilizers. The stabilizers will be installed on the latest newbuild cruise ships for American Cruise Lines. The Aquarius retractable stabilizers offer high-performance roll damping, compact and lightweight design, and advanced control systems. They are specifically engineered for smaller vessels, and feature a one-piece high-lift fin, low installation costs, and ease of integration with the ship’s alarm and monitoring systems. The stabilizers come with a fin-box and necessary local stiffening, ready for seamless installation at the shipyard. The yard is currently building the American Patriot, American Pioneer, American Maverick and American Ranger, along with other vessels for American Cruise Lines (ACL). Set to begin cruising in June of 2025, these vessels will accommodate 130 guests in staterooms with private balconies and a deck of suites. Fully stabilized with Kongsberg Maritime’s Aquarius retractable stabilizers, these new ships will enhance the cruising experience along the US Eastern Seaboard.

Automated Workboat Log Books

TBS Safety partnered with NeboFleet, a leader in high-frequency GPS tracking solutions for workboats and barges, to provide fleet operators with fleet visibility, highly accurate voyage tracking, and increased operational efficiency.

“Location tracking is critical, but maritime businesses need more — they need data that drives decisions and information that increases efficiency across the fleet,” said NeboFleet’s Stephen Winter. “Our partnership with TBS Safety ensures that fleet managers have access to real-time tracking, automated voyage logs, and seamless integration with their existing systems.”

TBS Safety brings extensive expertise in maritime compliance and operations, helping companies navigate safety and regulatory challenges. Through this partnership, TBS Safety ensures fleet operators receive accurate, real-time data from NeboFleet to enhance efficiency, compliance, and decision-making.

Managing a fleet means keeping track of vessels, crew activity, and operational efficiency. Many operators rely on AIS (Automatic Identification System) for tracking, but AIS has gaps that NeboFleet seamlessly closes.

Through this partnership, TBS Safety and NeboFleet provide:

• High-frequency GPS positions for tugs, barges, and port operations

• Automated voyage logging

• Seamless integration with the Helm CONNECT Log Book

• Real-time incident alerts and fleet utilization reporting

Click here to schedule a demo.

Kongsberg Launches New Electric Towing Winch

Kongsberg Maritime launched a new electric towing winch, powered by a frequency converter-driven electric motor, delivering enhanced operational efficiency and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional hydraulic systems.

Designed for harbor tug applications, the winch offers a pulling force of up to 35 tons and brake holding loads tailored to selected towing ropes. It features frequency converter technology for stepless speed control during rope handling and is available in multiple drum configurations, including single, double, and split drum options.

The robust design incorporates an electric motor, induction-hardened gears, and high-quality bearings, ensuring a durable drive line capable of withstanding harsh marine environments. Additional features include a mechanical spooling device for wire winch applications and a quick-release function under three seconds, compliant with IACS rules. Kongsberg Maritime combines winch controls with its Aquapilot thruster control system lever, enhancing operational safety and user-friendliness. This ergonomic design allows captains to manage winch and thruster operations simultaneously, improving situational awareness and control.

Steerprop Launches Largest Retractable Thruster

Steerprop expanded its range of retractable thrusters with its biggest unit to date. Designed for offshore vessels and workboats, the SP 45 R will be introduced on several offshore, renewables and special purpose vessels.

Working with vessel operators and designers, Steerprop identified that the sealing and locking mechanisms are often a weak point for retractable designs. The patent-pending seal design minimizes downtime by actively managing water ingress, with low maintenance requirements that can be performed from inside the vessel during normal operation. A floating housing moves with the stern tube to keep the seals in contact even at high speeds and sea states, and a simple scraping solution reduces marine growth on the stern tube—a primary cause of seal damage. A hydraulic locking and lifting mechanism ensures maximum reliability and addresses another common challenge for traditional retractable thruster designs—available deck space. The compact, zero-clearance solution fits entirely below the main deck of most standard vessel designs, ensuring that the prime real estate onboard can be fully utilized for the ship’s main mission.

Wärtsilä Tapped for Zero Emission Ferry

Wärtsilä will supply the electric propulsion system for three fully battery-electric, high-speed ferries that will operate in the San Francisco Bay area. The zero-emission vessels will be the first full electric high-speed ferries to operate and be built in the USA. The order with Wärtsilä has been placed by the shipyard All American Marine (AAM), on behalf of San Francisco Bay Ferry. Wärtsilä’s scope of supply is for the full electric propulsion system inculding the energy and power management system (EPMS), the integrated automation system (IAS), batteries, DC Hub, transformers, E-Motors, and the shore power supply. The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery commencing in 2026, and the first vessel is expected to join the ferry fleet in early 2027.

Helmsman Compass for Navigation

Bluewater or coastal, many mariners who venture offshore still rely on the convenience and dependability of a magnet compass for navigation. That's why the Ritchie Navigation HF-743 Helmsman is the ideal tool to have onboard. Unlike a GPS, it provides an exact course heading no matter the speed and becomes crucial in the event of a power failure.

The Ritchie HF-743 Helmsman has a black 3-3/4" CombiDamp dial with a hardened steel gimbal movement set on a matched sapphire jewel. Its polished dome has 45° lubber lines for easy reference. Integrated compensators adjust easily for deviation and powerful DirectiveForce magnets ensure fast heading lock-on. It has a moveable sun shield and built-in 12V green lighting. The housing is built from a durable high-temperature composite for an extended operating range.

Easy to install, the 5-1/8" wide HF-743 Helmsman compass fits a standard 4" mounting hole and requires only four screws. 6" adapter rings are available. It's 100% repairable, comes with a five-year warranty and costs $289.17. The compass is also available with a flat Open Face Dial.

Wildlife-Friendly Marine Lights

Glamox launched new wildlife and turtle-friendly versions of some of its most popular LED marine luminaires. The new amber-colored lights, for use on the exterior of vessels and onshore coastal facilities, are designed to limit the impact of lighting on nesting turtles and their hatchlings. Growing environmental awareness and guidance from authorities have seen the emergence of a market for amber turtle-friendly lighting, particularly in Asia and Australasia. Glamox has already sold some of its new lights for vessels working off coastal waters in Australia.

“We’ve taken a few of our best-selling LED marine lights and made amber light versions at a wavelength of around 600 nanometres, which is ideal for turtles. The lights are designed for the exterior of vessels and coastal facilities and include our MIR G2 and MAX G2 explosion-proof luminaires.

“We also have LED Kits which allow customers to keep the housing of their existing luminaire and upgrade their lights to be wildlife and turtle friendly,” said Marlon Iversen, Product Manager for Exterior Lighting at the Marine, Offshore & Wind Division of Glamox.

Tape for Marine Bonding Applications

Avery Dennison Performance Tapes introduced a Marine Bonding Portfolio featuring a selection of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes designed for the marine industry. The tapes address common marine applications and are designed to withstand years of use in harsh environments, including exposure to moisture, salt, chemicals and UV rays.

Avery Dennison PSA tapes are designed to last the life of the vessel and enable manufacturers to join, mount, attach or fasten without the use of mechanical fasteners or wet glue systems. They feature a variety of acrylic and rubber adhesive chemistries and are compatible for bonding with a variety of substrates, including fiberglass, metal and wood. PSAs can also replace screws, nuts and bolts, making assembly easier while reducing weight and promoting sustainability.

Avery Dennison marine bonding applications include:

• Decking

• Interior mounting

• Display mounting

• Electronics and wire harness securement

• Marine HVAC