NAME-4101

Propulsion and
Shafting

Conducted by:
Cdr Saiful Ahmad,(E),PCGMS,BN
 SHAFTING
Shafting:
Shafting is used to transmit the torque developed by
the engine to the propeller and to transmit the thrust
developed by the propeller to the ship’s hull.
Arrangement of shafting:
The shaft line is divided in to three main sections as
follows:
• Thrust shaft
• Intermediate shaft
• Tail shaft
SHAFTING
 SHAFTING
• Thrust shaft:
The length of shaft from gear box to intermediate shaft or
engine to middle shaft is termed as Thrust shaft. Thrust of the
propeller is transmitted to the hull through the thrust block,
which is usually fitted in this length of the shafting.

• Intermediate shaft:
The length of the shafting connecting the thrust shaft and the
tail shaft is known as the intermediate shaft.

• Tail shaft:
The final length of the shafting, to which the propeller is
attached, is known as the tail shaft.
 COMPONENTS
Main components of shafting:

• Thrust Block • Stern Tube Bushes

• Plummer Block • “A” Bracket
• Bulkhead Gland • “P” Bracket
• Shaft Locking Gear • Eddy Plate
• Loose Coupling • Rope Guard
• Stern Gland
 THRUST BLOCK
Its function is to transmit the thrust to the ship’s
hull. The thrust is taken against a heavy collar
mounted on the thrust shaft or integral with it.
“Michell” thrust pads bear against the collar on
each side and transmit the thrust to thrust block
body which is rigidly secured to the ship’s
structure.

The types of thrust blocks commonly used are:

1. Thrust Block with Thrust meter
2. Thrust Block without Thrust meter
 PLUMMER BLOCK
Its function is to support the length of the
intermediate shafting. A Plummer block may differ
from an ordinary bearing in that the bearing surface is
provided in the bottom half only and usually consists
of a set of “Michell” bearing pads.
Commonly used types of Plummer block include:
• Michell self lubricating Plummer block
• Split roller Plummer block
• Self aligning tapered roller bearing
• Self aligning double row bearing.
 BULKHEAD GLAND
These are fitted where the shaft passes through
the water tight bulkheads to maintain water
tight integrity between two adjacent
compartments.
These are of two types as stated below:
• Flexible spherical bulkhead gland
• Self aligning bulkhead gland
 SHAFT LOCKING GEAR
It is to lock the individual shaft to prevent it from
rotating under the following conditions:

• To lock the shaft at 12 ‘O’ clock position before

entering into dry dock.
• To prevent a damaged shaft or engine from rotating
when other undamaged shaft or engine is used.
• When a ship is to be towed with damaged shafting.
• To load the engine when required to sail at slow
speed with one shaft engaged.
 LOOSE COUPLING
It is the coupling connecting the intermediate shaft
with the tail shaft and the thrust shaft. This facilitates
easy disconnection of the shafting link.
 STERN GLAND
It is fitted in way of shaft passing through the ship
structure to the sea to avoid water ingress from
the sea to the ship. The commonly used sealing
arrangements in the stern glands include:
• Conventional stuffing box with turns of soft
packings.
• Facial contact sealing gland.
• Water lubricated deep sea seals.
• Oil lubricated stern tube seals.
 STERN TUBE BUSHES
These bushes are fitted inside the stern tube to
support the tail shaft in way of passing through
the ships structure into the sea.
 “A” OR “P” BRACKET
It is fitted on the outboard side of the ship and
adjacent to the propeller to support the tail
shaft and to take the weight of the propeller.
 PROPELLERS
It is fitted on the tail shaft to convert the torque of
the shaft into thrust and enable the ship to move
either in ahead or astern direction.

Types of propellers:
• Fixed Pitch Propellers
• Controllable Pitch Propellers
• Adjustable Pitch Propellers
• Screw Propellers
 PROPELLERS

The most commonly used materials for

propellers include:

• High Tensile Brass

• Manganese Bronze
• Nickel Aluminium Bronze
 MAINTENANCE
Examination of shafting and propellers during dock:
(By ship’s staff)
• Gauge propeller shaft to “A” Bracket clearance.
• Refit non- return valves.
• Confirm whether the docking mark on the shaft is
correct.
• Cleaning and preservation of propellers.
• Check propeller docking position.
• Prove stern lubrication arrangements.
• Lock the shaft
 MAINTENANCE
Examination of shafting and propellers during dock:
(By workshop/shipyard)
• Check propeller securing nut and locking
arrangement.
• Assemble and fit outer stern seals.
• Fit rope guards, eddy plates and fairing plates.
• Epoxy coating on tail shaft is to be checked.
• Corrosion to be checked.
• Propeller blades are to be checked for chipping/
pitting of material and to be rebuilt if required.