What do cruise ship stabilizers look like

Kongsberg Maritime’s Dunfermline facility has announced a contract to supply Aquarius 50 Retractable Fin Stabilisers for two new ferries to be built by the Cemre Shipyard in Turkey for Scotland’s Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).

There are many lubrication options to choose from and these are important considerations for design engineers embarking on new projects that require the sourcing and installation of new bearings. However, old machines shouldn’t be ignored. If bearings in existing machines are serviced or relubricated, it can significantly improve operational and energy efficiency of the equipment for long-term cost savings.

The KONGSBERG Aquarius retractable fin stabilisers, due for delivery in 2023, are designed for high performance roll damping whilst offering low weight and high reliability coupled with low maintenance. The PLC based control system provides robust, reliable technology with simple operating interfaces and extremely comprehensive maintenance and diagnostic information through touch screens. The controls will also provide the innovative Eco feature for optimisation operation of the stabilisers.

What are ship stabilizers called

For many applications, such as manufacturing measurement or dispensing instruments, very low bearing torque is vital. When sourcing ultra-low friction bearings for these high-value precision tools, there are multiple design considerations to keep friction to an absolute minimum.

Whether you’re designing components for an F1 model car or a real one, there are multiple factors to consider. Design engineers should adopt a holistic approach to bearing design, balancing the benefits and limitations of frictional torque to ensure optimum performance.

Royal Caribbean cruise ship stabilizers

KONGSBERG has enjoyed a long term relationship with CALMAC having provided stabilisers for their vessels over many decades, together with through-life service support which has included upgrade programmes to existing vessels.

For lower speeds, dry lubricants such as molybdenum disulphide can also reduce the friction between two surfaces without the need for oil or grease. For very low speeds or short-duration bursts of speed, unlubricated bearings may be used. If speeds are too high, low viscosity oils or greases with low viscosity base oils may be considered. Although greases have greater lubricant drag than oils or dry lubricants, a reduced fill can provide a low torque bearing while also being appropriate for high-speed applications.

Fin stabilizer in ship

Optimized raceway geometry and special sealing concepts go a long way in creating low-frictional torque levels. However, attention must also be paid to the production process, as any area of roughness on the raceway can diminish lubrication. The rings and balls of bearings should also be machined to fine tolerances and high levels of roundness to achieve a smooth operating motion.

Operating on the busiest service route on the Clyde and Hebrides network, the new 95 meter long vessels will have the capacity of  275-lanemeter for HGVs on the main deck and a total of 107 cars on both main and hoistable decks.

Jim Anderson, Director of Vessels of CMAL commented “We look forward to working again with the team at KONGSBERG to deliver stabilisers for our two new vessels for the communities in Islay and Jura. KONGSBERG has supplied stabilisers for many of the vessels in our fleet and is a trusted partner.”

Types of ship stabilizers

The F1 in Schools competition sees students from around the world compete to design and race the fastest miniature car model. The UK took home the world champion title at the 2019 world finals in Abu Dhabi, but what can design engineers learn from this success? Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearing supplier, SMB Bearings, explores the design options for ultra-low friction applications.

Recep Portakal, Project Manager of Cemre Shipyard commented, “It is a big proud moment to build such tailored projects for the communities in Islay and Jura, we are looking forward to making the most out of the cooperation between Kongsberg Maritime and CMAL.”

Design World Online The Robot Report Coupling Tips Motion Control Tips Linear Motion Tips Fastener Engineering Wire and Cable Tips

Ship stabilizer gyroscope

Our Global Customer Support works 24/7 to provide prompt responses, technical expertise and global assistance from key locations in 32 countries.

A high-performance low torque lubricant is “make or break” for ultra-low friction applications. Surprisingly, too much grease can be bad for a bearing, as a high grease fill means greater rolling resistance and a lack of free space inside the bearing to dissipate heat. Generally speaking, a lower fill is advised for high-speed, low torque applications.

If not reduced or controlled effectively, a high amount of friction often leads to higher wear losses and ultimately, poor reliability and lifespan of the bearing. High torque bearings also increase the power required to drive the equipment, increasing the cost of moving the load and the energy required to operate the equipment.

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Frictional torque describes the force required to start and maintain the free running of a bearing. The effort needed to rotate a bearing depends greatly on the roundness of the bearing, the raceway geometry, the load applied, the lubrication and the closures. For most design engineers, friction is a friend and a foe. Useful friction enables predictable and steady movements at high loads, but non-useful friction is simply wasted energy, expelled in the form of heat.