The 3 most chosen shaft seals for stern tubes and thrusters

Lagersmit can build a rich history of designing, producing and installing rotary shaft seals. With more than 50.000 seals delivered, you can say we have gained the right knowledge about the most chosen shaft seals. We’ve selected the 3 most popular shaft seals for stern tubes and thrusters at various kinds of vessels.

• Supreme® Standard
• Supreme Ventus®
• Supreme SeaGuard Ventus®

Read along and discover which rotary shaft seal best fits your vessel.

1. Supreme Standard

The Supreme Standard is the basic design for stern tube and thruster seals of seagoing vessels. This reliable sealing solution can be applied to CPP and FPP systems and is available in split type. The aft seal (STA) prevents water ingress to the stern tube and oil leakage to the outside environment. The forward seal (STF) prevents oil leakage from the stern tube to your engine room. Complemented with a broad range of options, the seal can be fully customised to your specific needs.

2. Supreme Ventus

The Supreme Ventus is the most popular choice for seagoing vessels. It is a durable and self-regulating sealing solution that guarantees zero emissions of oil for seagoing vessels. The Supreme Ventus has a constant air flow which prevents an oil-to-water interface and drains any leakage into a monitoring tank. This avoids the use of expensive bio-oils and can keep sailing in American waters with mineral oils. Due to the extra air barrier between the oil and water-repellent lip seals, any leakage is immediately transported to the transparent drain tank. A periodically generated vacuum ensures that the drain channel remains clean. The Air Control Unit (ACU) monitors the condition of the aft seal (SVA) and lets you know the status of the seal at any time.

The Supreme Ventus complies with the VGP and VIDA regulations because the oil and water-repellent lip seals are separated by a constant air flow. Because the pressure in the seal is adjusted to the water pressure, there is compensation for every draft. This results in minimal wear on the liner and lip seals.

3. Supreme SeaGuard Ventus

Supreme SeaGuard Ventus® combines extra security against oil leakage from the Supreme SeaGuard® with guaranteed zero emissions of the Supreme Ventus®. This powerful combination of seals is the most chosen option for retrofits. The Supreme SeaGuard Ventus (SGV) has an extra oil-repellent lip seal that can be activated in the event of excessive oil leakage. This way, an unnecessary dry dock can be prevented and maintenance can be postponed safely.

Due to the extra air barrier between the oil and water-repellent lip seals, any leakage is immediately transported to the transparent drain tank. A periodically generated vacuum ensures that the drain channel remains clean. The Air Control Unit (ACU) monitors the condition of the aft seal and lets you know the status of the seal at any time. The Supreme SeaGuard Ventus complies with the VGP and VIDA regulations because the oil and water-repellent lip seals are separated by a constant air flow. Because the pressure in the seal is adjusted to the water pressure, there is compensation for every draft. This results in minimal wear on the liner and lip seals.

About our Supreme propulsion seals

We believe a seal should deliver top performance, keep you going and offer you Peace of Mind. This idea led to the development of the Supreme seal. Introduced in the 1980s and further developed ever since, Supreme seals offer a ‘plus’ to many propulsion systems and vessels worldwide. The Supreme stern tube seals and Supreme thruster seals are produced with high-quality housing parts, lip seals and liners. Our Modular, Made-to-Measure philosophy enables us to deliver customer-specific designs combined with short quotation, lead and delivery times. In addition, the Supreme seals are suitable for both new-build and retrofit applications. The list of advanced options like an HML coating for extra durable liners and environmentally acceptable lubricant (EAL) compatible lip seals allows you to customise your seal design to your preferences.

Discover our complete portfolio of shaft seals and join hundreds of other shipping companies that rely on our sealing solutions.