The stern tube is at the heart a traditional shaft driven propulsion system. It provides the conduit from inside the vessel and the engine to outside and the driven propeller. It is a tube which provides bearing support and cooling for the rotating shaft, a watertight seal and structural support to transfer loads from the propulsion system into the vessel’s hull.
Containing a number of safety and propulsion critical items – it is a key part of vessel equipment requiring maintenance and periodic survey.
