Leading water-lubricated bearings and seals innovator Thordon Bearings has completed
the installation of its award-winning TG100 tailshaft seals on a twin-screw passenger
vessel.

The retrofit took place during a scheduled drydocking at a Chilean yard in October 2023. It
is the Canadian company’s first TG100 reference aboard a Chilean operated vessel.
The 17.5m (57ft), 40-person capacity aluminum hulled Rio Yelcho, operated by Puerto
Chacabuco-based Nautilus S.A was fitted with a pair of 88.9mm (3.5in) diameter TG100
seals, supplied by Thordon’s authorized distributor for Chile, Productos Servicios e
Ingeniería Ltda (PSeI Ltda).

The TG100 is a mechanical face seal specifically designed for workboats, ferries and
fishing vessels operating in clean or abrasive waters. The TG100, which replaced a
competing shaft seal, marks a first reference for the award-winning TG100 seal aboard
Chilean vessel, although Thordon, along with PSeI Ltda, has been working with the vessel
operator for several years.

PSeI Ltda Commercial Manager, Andrés Vásquez Gálvez, said: “We have been working
with Nautilus, part of the CPT Group, for many years primarily supplying Thordon SXL
tailshaft bearings. In 2021, we introduced the TG100 as a substitute for a competitor's
seal. This presented an opportunity to replace the stuffing box in order to modernize the
fleet and prolong the time between service periods. Thanks to the trust we've built with our
customers through our bearing solutions, coupled with our responsive service, the decision
to install Thordon’s TG100 seal was an easy one to make. The decision was also
reinforced by recommendations from TG100 users throughout the LATAM region.”
Aside from unforeseen expenses associated with unplanned seal maintenance and the
challenges in procuring replacement parts due to the absence of a local distributor, the
operational profile of the vessel also favoured the adoption of the more robust Thordon
sealing solution.

Egnard Bernal, Thordon Bearings’ Business Development Manager – LATAM, furthered:
“We are delighted that Nautilus has opted to retrofit Thordon seals to the Rio Yelcho. The
order represents our first installation of a TG100 seal in this important market, so we hope
other operators will follow their lead. The intention is to convert the entire Nautilus fleet to
the advanced shaft sealing system to reduce downtime for their boats. We are excited to
announce that we have also secured TG100 seal orders for the Rio Puelo and Rio
Pascua.”

Thordon and PSeI are gearing up for increased market demand from the country’s ferry
and workboat sectors as operators look to source more reliable and environmentally
sustainable propulsion systems, in line with regulatory requirements.

“Thordon's success in this market will be driven by its ability to not only provide innovative,
efficient, and environmentally friendly propeller shaft bearing and seal solutions, but also
from having a reliable local suppler and service provider on the ground,” said Vásquez
Gálvez.