Armon chooses Thordon COMPAC for Liberty Lines’ high-speed hybrid ferries

The first ships of the series are 39.7 meters long and have a capacity of 251 passengers. Vittorio Morace And Cristina M., delivered at the beginning of this year and are the world’s first IMO HSC (High Speed ​​Craft code) hybrid fast ferries of their size.

Although Armon has several years of experience with Thordon’s SXL material, this is the first time he has specified the COMPAC system.

“Following advice from Echetalde, the shipyard decided to slightly modify the original Incat-Crowther design to suit COMPAC,” said Malcolm Barratt, Thordon Bearings regional manager for Southern Europe and Gulf Mediterranean. “The original design featured three competitor-supplied seawater-lubricated bearings on each shaft, but only two propeller shaft bearings (rear and forward) were required on COMPAC. The shipyard found this to be the most suitable solution; “Not only because it better fits the environmental values ​​of the design, but also because it is a more cost-effective solution.”

Designed to operate at a maximum speed of 30 knots, the hybrid electric ferries are built according to the requirements set out in the RINA classification society Green Plus notation, a comprehensive program to assess the environmental friendliness of seagoing vessels.

“By combining conventional engines with advanced electric propulsion systems, these vessels significantly reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency. Thordon’s bearing technology certainly contributes to this operational and environmental performance,” said Iñigo Arrancudiaga, owner and CEO of Echetalde. “We hope that if Liberty Lines pursues new build options, we can provide the same bearing technology to the shipyard.”