Marine

Commercial Marine

Article lead image
Bulk Carrier Shoyoh

SSS Clutches have been used on large container ships, fast ferries, super yachts and special service vessels like low carbon loiter and sprint.

The SSS Clutch reliability and its ability to operate in demanding high-power applications have made it the choice of many high-profile applications, including:

GTS Finnjet, the original hybrid propulsion ship, used SSS Clutches both in her original gas turbine and revised hybrid diesel-electric and gas turbine propulsion trains. These SSS Clutches were certified for Ice Class operation.

The World Is Not Enough by Mulder Design, which became the fastest Super Yacht in the world in 2004 at 67 knots, uses SSS Clutches in the hybrid propulsion system between the gas turbines and the water jets.

HSC Francisco, built by INCAT, owned by Buquebus, is the fastest passenger ship in service at 58 knots and uses SSS Clutches between its LNG powered gas turbines and the water jet propulsion system.

Maersk Triple-E, the worlds largest container ships at the time of construction, use SSS Clutches in their Exhaust Gas Energy Recovery System

Destriero, a 67 metre yacht built by Fincantieri, which crossed the Atlantic at over 53 knots, used SSS Clutches for high-speed propulsion.

Destriero - photo courtesy of Fincantieri

SSS is used to working with global marine customers and the approval and classification bodies like Bureau Veritas, ClassNK, ABS and Lloyds.

The SSS Clutch reliability starts with our detailed attention to design, providing robust and reliable solutions for every operating condition. The SSS Clutch remains the only overrunning clutch which:

  • Cushions engagement / disengagement with a dashpot
  • Mechanically protects the lockout mechanism with a “baulk” feature
  • Has marine propulsion references up to 950,000 Nm
  • Includes a relay clutch mechanism to optimise the longevity of the SSS Clutch performance
  • Is officially rated as “Fit and Forget” by the UK MOD (NAVY) **
  • Has a NAVSEA (US Navy) MTBF rating >270,000 hours ***

** UK MOD Letter available on request from SSS.

*** NAVSEA (US Navy) ASME Paper available on request from SSS.