Thordon to supply Compac bearings for Orient Express newbuilds

When the first 220-meter/722-foot 22,300gt vessel is delivered in 2026, Orient Express Corinthian will be the world’s largest contemporary sailing ship.

Thordon firsts

The contract marks Thordon’s first reference for a Chantiers de l'Atlantique-built cruise ship and its first bearing installation aboard a wind-powered ship.

While three 100-meter/329-foot tall, 1,500-square-meter SolidSail rigs, a wind sail system develop by the French shipbuilder, will contribute significantly to propulsion, primary propulsive power will be through a conventional seawater-lubricated propeller shaft driven by an LNG-fueled prime mover. Accor also plans to run the ship on green hydrogen once the fuel is approved for ocean-going passenger ships.

Thordon’s scope of supply for the twin screw vessel includes Compac seawater-lubricated bearings machined to fit 370-millimeter/14.5-inch diameter propeller shafts.

'For these environmentally focused vessels, an oil-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system was out of the question, and although Chantiers de l’Atlantique has experience with our Compac seawater-lubricated bearing system across its naval vessel newbuildings, we still had to go through a lengthy and complex tendering process,' said Neil McDonald, Thordon’s regional manager, Northern Europe & Africa.

He added: 'Thordon’s Compac will contribute significantly to reducing the vessels’ environmental impact and maintenance costs.'

Said Benoît d'Alançon, director general, Wenex Equipment, Thordon Bearings’ authorized distributor in France: 'The Orient Express Corinthian firmly nods to both the legendary liner of the 1930s and that cosmopolitan icon of train travel, but modern, more environmentally sustainable technology is at the heart of this ultra-modern ship. Compac strengthens Accor’s vision of what a zero-pollution passenger ship looks like.'

Wind power adoption

Commenting on Accor’s decision to adopt wind-assisted propulsion technology, Gavin Allwright, secretary of the International Wind Ship Association, said: 'There can be no clearer sign that the passenger ship sector has accepted wind propulsion as the best way of reducing carbon emissions than Orient Express Corinthian, which is set to be the world’s largest primary wind passenger ship. We are delighted that Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Thordon Bearings — both of which are IWSA members — have been instrumental in ensuring Accor’s first luxury passenger ships operate environmentally above and below the waterline.'

There are now more than 40 commercial vessels with wind-assisted propulsion systems, with an additional 16 on order.

The 130-passenger Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled for delivery in March 2026, followed by a sister in September 2027. Accor has options for a further two ships.

Wenex Equipment is set to deliver the Thordon scope for the first vessel in March 2025.