Bearing failures: When normal readings hide the risk
Bearing temperature measurements are a critical part of machinery condition monitoring. However, experience shows that such measurements should be considered alongside other monitoring systems and inspection findings. Crew burn injuries and vessel damage Last year, a bearing failure on a container vessel caused rapid heat generation, oil mist formation, crankcase overpressure and machinery…
Bearing temperature readings play a vital role in machinery condition monitoring, yet they should not be the sole focus. In a recent incident, a bearing failure on a container vessel led to rapid heat generation, oil mist formation, crankcase overpressure and substantial machinery damage. The incident occurred because the aft bearing on the upper intermediate gear disintegrated, causing metal-on-metal contact and loss of lubrication.
The excessive friction generated heat, resulting in a hotspot and severe bearing damage. The ensuing flammable oil mist ignited in the crankcase, causing overpressure that displaced engine-room doors. Despite normal standard readings, the vessel sustained damage necessitating towing to repair. The investigation found no signs of maintenance issues or oil contamination.
The incident underscores the importance of integrating additional temperature measurements with information from oil mist detectors, lubrication systems, vibration monitoring, alignment checks, and physical inspections. While effective condition monitoring is evolving with enhanced bearing-monitoring systems, it remains crucial to combine data retention with timestamps and other sensor information to identify warning signs and investigate incidents.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
