Orkot® bearings fitted to rudders of world's largest LNG ship

Orkot® Marine TXMM and TLMM rudder bearings manufactured by Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Rotherham have been fitted to the world's largest LNG carrier, named the ‘Mozah’ by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea. The vessel launched in August 2008 and carrying 266,000m³ of LNG, which its class society Lloyd’s Register says is “almost 80% more cargo than conventional ships,” the 345m ship has twin rudders and chose TXMM for the rudder stock (upper bearing) and TLMM on the pintle (lower bearing), enabling operation without lubrication. The Orkot® TXMM material is said to have proven in tests with all others to have the longest life with the lowest unlubricated friction. It is an advanced synthetic composition incorporating solid lubricants, with exceptional wear resistance, virtually no swell in water and great dimensional stability. The bearings tolerate edge loading and misalignment even with the heaviest loads. The Orkot® TXMM adds a specialised bearing surface to extend dry running capability. Both bearing materials can also be used in conjunction with water and grease lubrication. The ‘Mozah’ is the first of 14 similar ships, having low-speed diesel engines using both bunker fuel and boil-off gas rather than the usual steam turbines, giving a quoted 30% reduction in overall emissions. It has a deadweight of 125,600dwt and is 54m wide, with a draught of 12m and a depth of 27m. Further information on the complete range of Orkot® products can be obtained from the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions website: http://tss.trelleborg.com