Kongsberg Kamewa A5

Common issues

• Thrust bearing wear from sustained high loads
• Stern tube seal leakage
• Condition monitoring sensor faults
• Coupling bolt fatigue or loosening
• Corrosion at shaft/coupling interfaces
• Misalignment from hull deflection or bearing wear

Inspection checklist

• Check stern tube seal for leakage and wear
• Inspect thrust bearing condition and oil/grease condition
• Verify shaft alignment against manufacturer tolerance
• Inspect coupling bolts for correct torque and fatigue cracking
• Check condition monitoring system (vibration/temperature sensors) function
• Visual/NDT inspection of the shaft for surface cracking, especially at keyways and couplings
• Check corrosion protection (anodes, coatings) on exposed shaft sections

Service intervals

Critical spares

• Stern tube seal set
• Thrust bearing pads/shells
• Coupling bolts (correct grade only, no substitution)
• Sacrificial anodes

Safety

• High rotating mass - lock out/isolate before shaft work
• Stern tube seal failure can allow flooding - monitor and respond promptly
• Heavy component handling during shaft withdrawal or coupling work

Class survey

Class tailshaft surveys require periodic withdrawal/inspection, or continuous survey with oil sampling and condition monitoring data where an approved CM notation applies, checking bearing wear-down, seal condition, and NDT of the shaft in way of couplings and bearings.