For the 20th consecutive year, MIT will be exhibiting at Seawork, one of the largest European commercial marine exhibitions, where on stand PO5 they will showcase why they are the experts in marine propulsion and driveline systems.

With an array of innovative and forward thinking technology from world leading brands, and an industry leading service, repair and overhaul capability, MIT are not only the experts in product supply, but excel in whole life-cycle vessel support to both standard diesel and environmentally friendly driveline solutions.

As we see ever tightening emissions regulations within the industry, operators are looking to reduce their carbon footprint with sustainable alternatives to diesel power, whilst reducing operating costs and engine maintenance, future proofing of their business.

Experts in Electric and Hybrid technology, Transfluid are dedicated to delivering cost-effective and environmentally friendly systems to work-boat operators and continue to further develop their Electric/Hybrid driveline system. On display at Seawork 2018, the system offers unique flexibility which surpasses rival models, allowing the operator to work in three specific mode: Electric propulsion, to drive or sail at zero emissions in absolute silence. Engine Propulsion, using the electric machine as a generator to recharge batteries, and Booster, which allows the electric motor during acceleration to assist the engine – providing extra torque to the driveline.

The system can be easily fitted to any transmission such as, marine gear boxes, hydrostatic transmissions, cardan shaft and water jets has an approved engine power of up to 1100kw (1475 hp), with the electric motor reaching 400 kw.

To install the HM system, all that is needed is an additional few hundred millimeters between the diesel engine and the transmission, allowing the unit to be fitted on new vessels or installed as a retrofit, making the system an ideal solution for ports and commercial operators. MIT, in collaboration with Goodchild Marine Services will this year feature on the Seawork conference agenda, exploring how moving away from diesel power can aid the work-boat sector.

With innovation at the forefront of the MIT portfolio, steering solutions which complement the build of custom work-boats also take a front seat at Seawork 2018. Esteer, a plug-and-play technology developed by Twin Disc offers users reliable, robust features such as dual bus technology, adaptive steering, dynamic rudder control and more. Engineered to excellence, E-STEER was designed for both operators and boat builders alike. The ease of installation makes it the perfect partner to any propulsion system, delivering a smooth, vibration free drive, and is suitable for vessels large and small.

This technology has redundancies built into the steering system, ranging from basic with dual bus technology to full redundancy. Each control has two CAN-bus communication links between devices, and primary and secondary power inputs, with audible alarms for loss of either supply.

The optional dual control system serves as a backup in the event of a failure, providing the end user with peace of mind, along with providing adaptive resistance through speed sensing technology. Resistance is increased or decreased based on the vessel’s speed, giving the operator better control over the helm, and effortless, precise steering. With dynamic rudder control E-STEER constantly and proportionally adjusts the range of movement based on the vessel’s speed — preventing extreme and unsafe rudder angles and reducing the potential for accidents.
And innovation does not stop with steering and hybrid solutions! Official suppliers to the Sir David Attenborough Polar Research Vessel, Rubber Design also introduce their latest mount technology, the TT1X – a high performance torque thrust mount.

Listening to customer feedback, the TT1X was designed specifically for increased acoustical demands. This new mount series broadens the bandwidth of load-capacity and sets a new standard for the resilient suspensions of high speed engines with close coupled gearboxes.
With a load capacity higher than most other mounts on the market, combined with the compact and proven design, this mount enables simpler and more cost effective resilient mount solutions. Additionally, this mount is equipped with new, patented technologies, to even further increase its performance and reliability. Built from the highest quality materials, the choice for the TT1X means opting for a fail-safe solution, which will perform satisfactory in the field for many years.

With over 40 years of industry experience, MIT is more than just component parts. Visit MIT on stand PO7 where they will also be discussing their extensive system design, service, preventative maintenance, and overhaul capabilities available on most models of marine drivelines. MIT are official UK/Ireland distributors for both Twin Disc, Transfluid, Rubber Design and Quincy, along with being official service partners of ZF Marine, Reintjes and Servogear.

MIT will also be discussing standard marine drivelines and propulsion systems from across their product portfolio, including marine transmissions, single and multiple pump drives, standard and hybrid marine transmissions, anti-vibration systems, boat steering systems and air compressors.

About MIT:
Since 1974, MIT has been designing, supplying and servicing transmissions and driveline systems across the UK/Ireland, becoming a centre of excellence in driveline systems providing customers with full product life cycle support from system design, supply, commissioning, maintenance, repair, spares, and overhaul or replacement.

MIT have bases in southern and northern England, providing comprehensive UK and Ireland coverage along with an established global mobile support service, delivered by a highly trained and dedicated technical engineering team and a significant inventory of world class brands, including new and refurbished transmissions, driveline systems and spare parts.

MIT are the sole UK/EIRE distributors of Twin Disc, Transfluid, Rubber Design, Arneson, Rolla and Quincy compressors.

Media Enquiries:
Louise Woolley
Marketing Manager
e: l.woolley@mitgroup.co.uk
t: +44 (0) 2380 455 447
Full media pack available on request.

AtZ Marine Technologies have today announced the signing of an agreement to officially represent Wågene Purifiner Technology within the United Kingdom and Ireland.Wagene UK distributor

Wågene, the experts in oil conditioning technology, have since 1999, offered oil purification units for hydraulic and other lubricating oils and fuels into the shipping and offshore markets, delivering more than 3,000 units to marine operators, which includes the supply of over 100 cruise ships and 400 offshore vessels. Not just suited to marine, the technology also lends itself perfectly to both the construction and mining, and industrial power plants industries.

The innovative technology of the Wågene, Purifiner units delivers significant breakdown and maintenance cost savings, which are achieved by cleaning up to 600 litres of oil per day per filter.

Research has shown that up to 80% of hydraulic failures are due to contaminated oil, and as many as 40% can be due to water within the oil. The Wågene filter removes both particulates and water simultaneously, including from emulsion.

By using a 100% cotton filter the Purifiner by-pass filter is able to absorb all particles and contaminants down to the 1-3 micron range. For water removal, the unit has an evaporation chamber that removes water from the oil down to 0.01% (100 ppm). With continuous use, the user can achieve a higher quality of oil than if it were new.

The technology is proven to work with all types of oil, ranging from common mineral oil to synthetic and EAL oil with a viscosity of 32 to 320 centistokes.

EAL’s (environmentally acceptable lubricants) are commonly used within the shipping industry, and are environmentally biodegradable lubricants that can be sensitive to water and used specifically for their ability to prevent damage to the environment should a leak allow oil to leave the system. The Purifiner units have been tested extensively and delivered proven results in the removal of water from EAL as well as mineral oils.

The partnership between Wågene and AtZ Marine Technologies, further expands the support AtZ offer its customers. Introducing a pioneering product to their portfolio that not only delivers a dramatically increased quality of oil, but increases the life expectancy of equipment, whilst reducing operating costs and aiding environmental sustainability.

The full Wågene Purifiner Oil Cleaner portfolio is available via AtZ within the United Kingdom and Ireland. For further details, please email: sales@atzmartec.com

The role of a thruster and thruster components on-board large seagoing vessels

Large seagoing vessels are designed for crossing open water quickly and efficiently while carrying their cargo of goods or passengers. In an open water environment, very fine manoeuvrability is not necessarily a high priority in designing and specifying such vessels.

When entering or departing port however, particularly in more challenging weather conditions – fine control of a vessel is important to ensure no damage to either the vessel, dock, cargo or crew is caused.

If you spend a lot of time moving through open water, and have the option of support when performing more challenging docking manoeuvres, basic propulsion in the form of a propeller and a rudder is likely the simplest and most cost effective means of moving the vessel.

However – if a larger proportion of time is spent entering and leaving port, or the cost, time and availability of support from tugs is prohibitive, it makes sense to equip your vessel with the means to perform its own fine manoeuvres.

In the case of traditional propeller propulsion, simple fore or aft thrust alone is provided by running the shaft in opposite directions of rotation. While moving through the water, the rudder provides steering at the rear of the vessel, and while stationary some directional thrust if mounted behind the propeller.

Thruster Types

There are a number of alternative thruster configurations that can be fitted to vessels to improve upon manoeuvrability – primarily while the vessel is moving at low speed or at rest.

Tunnel Thrusters

Passing completely through the vessel hull, tunnel openings allow water to be pumped from one side of the vessel to the other, producing thrust. In the centre of the tunnel a propeller rotates on an axis perpendicular to the main propeller shaft, in a horizontal orientation. The tunnels can most often be found closest to the bow or stern of the vessel to deliver a maximum of rotational effort on the vessel when used in opposite directions.

The propeller and gearbox assembly mounted within the tunnel can usually be removed for maintenance or repair.

Steerable Thrusters

In this configuration, the thruster protrudes from the bottom of the vessel, looks something like a hairdryer and is free to be rotated – sometimes as much as 360°. These provide more flexibility than a tunnel thruster where the angle of thrust can be varied, rather than fixed in the orientation of the tunnel.

In some applications they can also be the main source of propulsion, replacing a traditional shaftline altogether.
Again, these can usually be removed for maintenance and repair.

Thruster Components and Maintenance

Whether tunnel mounted or steerable, most thrusters share similar operating principles and mechanical configurations.

Housing

This provides the container within which all of the operating components are located, protected from the sea and debris, and the means by which the thruster is mounted to the vessel. Generally, the housing will be made from a cast iron material which has a paint or similar coating to provide protection from corrosion and marine growth. The housing will have zinc or aluminium anodes to further protect itself from galvanic corrosion.

During maintenance the housing is checked for any damage, which can usually be repaired by welding subject to classification requirements. Any worn or excessively corroded interfacing surfaces can be renewed by machining to re-establish their flatness and surface finish.

In the most extreme cases where the housing is beyond repair, it is possible to replace it entirely, rebuilding the thruster with remaining or replacement components.

Drive

As thrusters are generally not aligned with the direction of rotating equipment within the vessel driving them, or at the same speed, they contain multiple shafts and gear arrangements. Some thrusters operate with purely mechanical power transmission, where others will contain a series of hydraulic or electric driveline components.

Supporting these drive components will be rolling and plain bearings, thrust pads and even brakes. All of which require lubrication and cooling. Most often the housing is filled with a lubricating oil which circulates around the system. In the case of a hydraulically driven thruster, a separate hydraulic fluid will be circulating to transmit power.

During overhaul, the drive components will be removed from the main housing and inspected for wear and any damage. Typical damage that may need to be addressed includes:

Worn or broken gear teeth, excessive bearing play, insufficient preload.

Bearings would usually be replaced with new items.

Seals

In order to prevent contamination of thruster oils and fluids with dirt, debris and water, static and dynamic seals are fitted throughout the thruster housing. These range from gaskets between different sections of housing, to O-cords and rotating lip or face seals around rotating components.

Wearing and elastomeric components of all rotating seals would all be replaced as part of a thruster overhaul. It may also be necessary to upgrade some components in order to operate on a different type of lubricant – such as a biodegradable oil.

All static seals, gaskets and O-cords would be replaced on reassembly.

Variable Pitch

In the case of a thruster with variable pitch propeller blades, additional components in the form of a yoke and sliding assembly would also feature in the equipment. The relative movement of these components within the thruster allow the pitch of the blades on the propeller to be continuously variable giving varying thrust and direction during operation.

These wearing components would be inspected as part of an overhaul and machined, or replaced as necessary to ensure correct operation.
As experts in marine engineering and official agents for Aegir-Marine, AtZ are able to assist with a range of Seal and Thruster parts and service. Ranging from onsite seal consultancy, servicing and leak prevention to specialist thruster overhaul and repair in dock or at Aegir’s custom built thruster workshop.

For further information on the full parts, service and consultancy portfolio offered by AtZ, please email sales@atzmartec.com or visit, www.atzmartec.com