Long-life seal ring for use with EALs

The Helsinki-based company said the new product was the first seal on the market that worked with environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL), sometimes known as bio-degradable oils, for a lifetime of at least five years. Conventional seal rings are recommended to be changed at two-and-a-half-year intervals.
The benefits offered by the Bio Seal Ring to shipowners and operators are both environmental and economic, Wärtsilä said. The extended operating life expectancy has a significantly positive impact on dry-dock scheduling and related costs. The unique features of the seal ring have been achieved through improvements in the material formula by including new additives. The product has been tested extensively and proven at the Wärtsilä Seals and Bearings R&D facility.
This solution is suited to fixed pitched propeller systems, according to Wärtsilä, which recommends that shipowners consult with the propulsion original equipment manufacturers to confirm EAL compatibility for controllable pitch propeller systems.
The new product enables compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency's Vessel General Permit 2013 legislation, which comes into force on December 19th 2013. From this date all commercial vessels over 79 feet operating in US waters will be required to use EALs in all oil-to-water interfaces unless deemed technically infeasible to do so. At least 10-20% of all merchant vessels worldwide in terms of trade and tonnage operate in US waters, Wärtsilä noted.
In addition to new shipbuilding applications, the Wärtsilä Bio Seal Ring can be retrofitted to existing vessels.