XL stern tube bearings order marks latest in decades of Southeast Asian marine orders

Vesconite Bearings, a global leader in high-performance bearing solutions, has supplied one of its largest stern tube bushings to date for installation on a Singapore-flagged oil and chemical tanker. The order, arranged by a regional fleet management company, adds to a legacy of over one thousand stern tube and rudder bearings supplied by Vesconite Bearings for Southeast Asian cargo vessels over the past 28 years.

The bearings, manufactured from Vesconite Hilube, a long-life, no-swell bearing material, were supplied as stock material and machined to final dimensions at a shipyard in Shanghai, China, when the 149-metre-long vessel entered dry dock in March 2025.

“This delivery continues our longstanding commitment to the Southeast Asian marine sector, where Vesconite Bearings has been supplying bushings and bearings for tankers, container vessels, and bulk carriers for over 36 years,” says Wian Venter, Managing Director of Vesconite Bearings SEA, a newly created regional branch of Vesconite Bearings.

We’re proud that our solutions continue to be trusted by fleet managers across the region.”

Among the supplied materials was an extra-large Vesconite Hilube bushing with a 600 mm outer diameter (OD), 450 mm inner diameter (ID), and a length of 1780 mm. Once machined in Shanghai, the finished bearing measured 543 mm OD x 465mm ID x 1680 mm in length, excluding a 650 mm diameter flange that was machined separately. A smaller bearing of 520 mm length was also included in the shipment and machined to 542 mm OD x 469 mm ID x 420 mm length, excluding a 700 mm flange.

Flanges were fabricated from Vesconite Hilube plates supplied in sizes of 650 mm x 650 mm and 700 mm x 700 mm, each 40 mm thick.

Both bearings featured water-cooling grooves, critical for efficient thermal management during operation. Additionally, stepped configurations were machined into the bearings and flanges to allow a sliding fit between the flange and bearing, facilitating precise installation.

Although Vesconite Bearings offered fully-machined components, the customer opted for machining on-site in Shanghai to coordinate with the dry-docking schedule. The order was dispatched from Vesconite Bearings on March 14 and arrived in Shanghai, at dry dock, on March 19, in time for machining and installation.

The order was placed following the fleet manager’s dissatisfaction with previously installed rubber bearings, which had exhibited excessive wear and had to be replaced due to clearance exceeding acceptable limits. Vesconite Hilube was selected as the superior alternative, thanks to its wear resistance, dimensional stability in water, and proven marine track record.

This is the second order that Vesconite Bearings has received from this particular fleet manager, with Venter also providing engineering drawings and technical support on both occasions.

The oil and chemical tanker, flying the Singapore flag, operates under the classification of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) and has a width of 24 metres. Its latest upgrade using Vesconite Hilube reinforces the trend of regional fleet managers opting for performance materials with reduced maintenance demands.

“Our reputation in Southeast Asia has been built over decades of reliability and innovation,” says Venter. “This most recent order reflects both the trust our customers place in our products and our capability to support demanding marine applications with fast turnaround and comprehensive engineering support.”

Caption 1: Vesconite Bearings, a global leader in high-performance bearing solutions, has supplied one of its largest stern tube bushings to date for installation on a Singapore-flagged oil and chemical tanker.

Contact:

Deborah Spicer

+27 11 616 1111

vesconite@vesconite.com