Maritime bearing supplier Thordon Bearings has supplied and installed its advanced bearing systems to a new fleet of hybrid ferries from Italian company Liberty Lines.
The ferries, currently under construction, are designed as environmentally friendly high-speed ships.
Echetalde, Thordon’s authorized distributor in Spain, supplied 18 seawater-lubricated COMPAC propeller shaft bearings and nine grease-free SXL rudder bearings.
These components have been delivered to the Astilleros Armon shipyard in Spain for installation on nine hybrid ferries. The shipyard has an option to deliver a further nine ships between 2027 and 2030.
Echetalde owner and CEO Iñigo Arrancudiaga said: “These ships combine traditional engines with advanced electric propulsion systems, significantly reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.
“Thordon’s bearing technology certainly contributes to that operational and environmental performance.”
The first two ferries in the series, named Vittorio Morace and Cristina M, each 39.7 meters long and with a capacity for 251 passengers, were launched in June this year.
They were delivered earlier this year and are recognized as the world’s first IMO HSC hybrid fast ferries of this size, the company said.
These hybrid-electric ferries are designed to reach speeds of up to 30kt and comply with RINA’s Green Plus notation, which rates the environmental performance of ships.
The ferries’ integrated hybrid powertrain combines conventional and electric propulsion systems. They are powered by a pair of 2,560 kW diesel engines driving the propellers through reduction gears, with power provided by 30 kW e-motors, two variable speed generator sets and a 346 kWh battery pack.
Thordon Bearings regional manager Southern Europe and Gulf Med Malcolm Barratt said: “Following Echetalde’s recommendation, the shipyard decided to slightly modify the original Incat-Crowther design to accommodate COMPAC.
“The original design included three competitor seawater-lubricated bearings on each shaft, but COMPAC required only two propeller shaft bearings – aft and forward.”
“Thordon supplies bearings for Liberty Lines’ new hybrid ferries” was originally created and published by Ship Technology, a brand owned by GlobalData.
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