Nautical Term: Stern tube
Definition of Stern tube
The stern tube refers to the protective bearing that houses the propeller shaft as it emerges from the ship. This component is essential for minimizing friction between the shaft and the ship’s hull. The stern tube consists of a cast iron or steel cylinder, fitted with brass bushings that house the white metal or lignum vitae bearing surfaces. The propeller shaft, enclosed in a brass sleeve, rotates upon these bearing surfaces.
For instance, while traversing the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the cargo vessel Sea Titan encounters a sudden, violent storm. As the waves crash against the ship’s hull, causing extensive damage to the propeller blades, the crew of the Sea Titan must act quickly to prevent further damage to the vessel or the environment.
To address the issue, the crew decides to replace the damaged propeller blades with new ones. However, before they can do so, they must first remove the old propeller blades from the propeller shaft.
To accomplish this task, the crew members carefully extract the damaged propeller blades from the shaft, taking great care not to damage the shaft or the bearing surfaces of the stern tube.
Explore other nautical terms:
