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Quick Delivery Reduces Drydocking Costs For Navy Bearing Replacement With drydocking costs sometimes topping $10,000 per day, shipowners take a serious interest in delivery schedules for replacement parts, even when their resources are as vast as those of the U.S. Navy. The problem becomes increasingly acute when replacements can be ordered only after the original parts have been removed in drydock and exam- ined for wear. This fact came to light with the recent refitting of propeller shaft bearings for the Military Sea- lift Command tanker Kawishiwi (T-AO-146). One of six Neosho Class oilers, the 38,000-ton vessel has a cargo capacity of approxi- mately 180,000 barrels of fuel oil. The Kawishiwi's two propeller shaft liners were found to be worn beyond acceptable levels during a recent overhaul at Versatile Pacific Shipyards Inc. in North Vancouver, B.C. The under-size liners made it necessary to replace her two stern- tube and two strut bearings with over-size components. The over-size bearings brought the critical clear- ance between the 21 Vs -inch shaft liners and the bearings back to an acceptable Vs inch. Normal procurement time for re- placement of the original bearings with the same type is 10 days for manufacturing, plus normal ship- ping time. With the assistance of Vancouver distributor Pacific Pro- pulsion Ltd., the shipyard ordered Thordon XL elastomeric stave bear- ings from the manufacturer, Thom- son-Gordon Ltd. These staves were manufacturered in a one-step mold- ing process and delivered to the yard all within seven days. Apart from fast delivery, the Navy can expect further benefits from the oiler's new bearings. The material has a coefficient of friction that is less that half that of rubber. Therefore, at slow speeds, before hydrodynamic conditions are achieved and water becomes the ef- fective bearing surface, less torque will be required to drive the ship. This will result in reduced bearing and liner wear, quieter running, no "stick-slip" phenomenon, a measure of fuel economy, and longer life for most of the final drive components. For further information and free literature describing in detail the specifications and applications of Thordon XL bearings, Circle 4 on Reader Service Card Portsmouth Naval Yard To Perform Sub Overhaul Worth $112 Million Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, N.H., is the successful offeror in a competitive test pro- gram between public and private sector shipyards for the regular overhaul of USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642). Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is being assigned the over- haul on a fixed-price-incentive ba- sis. The target price for this effort is $112,100,000. Work will be per- formed in Portsmouth, and is ex- pected to be completed November 10, 1988. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the requiring activity. $12.2-Million Contract Awarded Swiftships To Build 30 Patrol Boats Swiftships, Inc. of Morgan City, La., has been awarded a $12,178,268 fixed price FMS contract for the supply of patrol boats and asso- ciated support hardware and ser- vices to the government of Came- roon. Work, which will be performed in Morgan City, will consist of the con- struction of thirty, 38-foot high- speed aluminum patrol craft, plus modular maintenance and ware- house facilities. Services supplied under this contract will include op- erational, maintenance and repair training, and in-country technical assistance. Swiftships is one of the world's leading producers of high-speed pa- trol and interdiction vessels, having delivered more than 350 boats to 42 countries. Swiftships, Inc., is a subsidiary of NGS Enterprises, headquartered in Washington, D.C. For free literature containing complete information on facilities and services offered by Swiftships, Circle 125 on Reader Service Card Every Kind of Shipwork TODD SHIPYARDS CORPORATION 1 Evertrust Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07302 Telephone: (201) 434-0200 Cable "Robin" JerseyCity Telex: WUI 620100 GALVESTON/LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO/SEATTLE 40 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
