Lagersmit | Bearings

We have been delivering high-quality bearings since 1856. Even our company name is derived from the Dutch word 'lager', which means bearing. Nowadays we still provide stern tube bearings and intermediate shaft bearings in addition to our sealing solutions.

What is a stern tube bearing?

A stern tube bearing is a precision-made component that is used to support the propeller shaft and transfers the radial forces acting on the propeller to the ship’s structure. The bearing allows the propeller shaft to rotate with as less friction as possible.

Stern tube bearings are of the slide bearing type (also referred to as journal bearings or plain bearings). The bearings are located inside the stern tube of the vessel, therefore the name stern tube bearings. The amount of bearings used in a stern tube varies, but a set-up of one aft bearing and a forward bearing is a common solution.

A stern tube is a precisely machined weldment consisting of several tubes, the bearings are press-fitted into the stern tube. To be able to transfer the bearing forces to the vessel, stern tubes are installed in the ship’s structure. This can be done by a combination of resin casting and a bolted connection, or by welding.

How a stern tube bearing works

The function of the stern tube bearings is to carry the radial loads of the propeller shaft and to protect the shaft against wear. In the case of an oil-lubricated bearing, this is achieved by creating an oil film between the bearing and the propeller shaft. When the propeller shaft is rotating, nearby oil will follow the circumferential movement of the propeller shaft.

At sufficient shaft speed, the oil will flow from the supply holes in the bearing along with the shaft towards the bottom of the bearing. Here it is forced between the narrowing space between bearing and shaft, which creates lift. When the shaft speed is high enough, there will be no metallic contact between the shaft and bearing. This principle is called hydrodynamic lubrication.

Hydrodynamic lubrication explained with rotating shaft, bearing, oil and pressure

Wear down of bearings

Bearing wear of an oil lubricated stern tube bearing is generally small. However, it is required to monitor bearing wear to ensure safety and satisfactory operation in the future. Bearing wear down measurements can be done by measuring the distance from the aft seal housing parts to the shaft by means of a Vernier caliper. When the initial value during seal installation is known, the deviation of the following measurement can be translated to bearing wear. Bearing wear down measurements can be performed with Lagersmit type of seals. Note that water lubricated bearings are different, wear rates of these bearings are much higher.

How to reduce friction and wear?

It’s very important to choose the correct configuration of the bearing, key parameters are:

Viscosity of the lubricant
Shaft speed
Bearing load
Bearing dimensions

Note that most of the bearing wear will occur at lower shaft speeds or when the bearing is under high loads, e.g. start-up, extreme manoeuvres, mooring. During sailing there should by hydrodynamic lift in the bearing and therefore no metallic contact and low friction.

Bearings and EAL

A DNV-GL study shows an increase of stern tube bearing failures coinciding with the introduction of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs). When changing the stern tube lubricant from mineral oil to EAL oil; choose an EAL oil with a higher viscosity (one viscosity grade up).

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Materials and options

Our stern tube bearings are suitable for oil-lubricated systems with shaft diameters that can vary from 70mm till approximately 900mm. Lagersmit bearings can be delivered with a class approval/certificate upon request and have several options;

Aft, intermediate or forward stern tube bearings
Temperature sensor for measuring bearing metal temperature
Different grades of cast iron
Different types of white metal, including lead- and tin-based white metal
Delivery in pre-machined condition, with or without oil supply holes and longitudinal grooves

The bearings are made out of a cast iron bush with a white metal lining on the inside. There are two types of white metal;

lead based
tin based

In most cases lead based white metal will be sufficient for stern tube bearing applications and will also be the most economic option. For ice-class, navy vessels or environmental regulations we recommend tin-based white metal lining. Tin based white metal is more suitable when dynamic loads can occur.

The advantages of white metal lining

The white metal lining is made by means of centrifugal casting. This process has multiple benefits on the material structure:

Due to the centrifugal forces during casting, possible gasses or impurities will be forced to the inner diameter. These can easily be removed after the casting by machining
The lighter elements will settle closer to the inner diameter and the heavier elements to the outside. This results in a wear resistant running surface with a though and soft base layer adhering to the cast iron bush
Good sliding properties
Low sensitivity to edge pressure due to the soft lining material
Good emergency running properties and protection of the shaft material