Alaska Ferry contract for Thordon Bearings

The twin-screw

,

280ft long Alaska-class ferries will each have capacity to carry 300 passengers

and

53 st

and

ard vehicles

and

feature fully enclosed vehicle decks with bow

and

stern doors for quicker loading/unloading

.

Craig Carter

,

director of marketing

and

customer service

,

Thordon Bearings said: “These vessels

,

thought to be the first built in Alaska for use in Alaska

,

are a significant step forward for the Vigor Industrial shipyard

and

we are delighted to be associated with this new class of arctic ferry

.

The COMPAC propeller shaft bearings will ensure these vessels can operate with zero risk of any oil discharges into a very ecologically sensitive area

.

”

Thordon Bearings will deliver the Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant (EAL)-compliant system for shaft diameters of 267mm

,

with delivery to the first vessel in the series due later this year with the second following in early 2016

.

Both vessels are due to be delivered to Alaska Marine Highway System

,

part of the Alaska Department of Transportation

and

Public Facilities

,

in 2018 for subsequent operation as day boats along the Lynn Canal route between Juneau

,

Haines

and

Skagway

.

Thordon’s seawater lubricated bearings are already installed on Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferries

Matinooska

,

Tuskamina

and

Kennicott

.