ProfiSeal GmbH designs and manufactures highly reliable propeller-shaft and bulkhead seals for the yacht and shipbuilding industry.

Propeller shaft seals

ProfiSeal propeller shaft seals are designed for shafts with diameters ranging from 20mm to 180mm and are type-approved by DNV, LR and ABS. We also customise our seals according to the needs of our customers for retrofit, upgrade of older ships, as well as the exchange of other types of seals.

They are in use for water and oil-lubricated shaft systems and are installed in a vast number of governmental ships special crafts. Typical applications are patrol boats and vessels for police, customs and coastguard, working vessels such as pilot boats offshore supply vessels, and commercial passenger ships, coasters, workboats and yachts.

ProfiSeal propeller shaft seal advantages

ProfiSeal shaft seals require very little maintenance. For aluminium hulls the housing and pneumostop flanges of the seals are also available in aluminium material. The seals are easily installed without the need of further adjustments, and ensure a long lifetime, even in extremely polluted waters. The facetype design of the seals eliminates shaft-wear.

ProfiSeal propeller shaft seals, designed for 20mm to 90mm shaft diameters.

100mm to 180mm propellor shaft seals for water and oil-lubricated shaft systems.

The new fireproof bulkhead seals feature electrically insulated shafts and bulkheads.

Bulkhead seals are installed in patrol and supply boats, as well as other governmental and commercial vessels.

Water-lubricated shaft bearings are free from pollution, and have a long lifespan due to low friction losses and abrasive wear.

Permitted shaft movements are as follows:

• Allowed axial shaft movement: +/-5mm
• Allowed radial shaft movement: +/-2mm

Propeller shaft seal accessories

ProfiSeal also manufactures a series of accessories for these shaft seals, including:

• Pneumostop inflatable stand-still seal – this seal is available for shaft sizes from 50mm diameter, and allows the inspection or even repair of the propeller shaft seals while the vessel is floating
• Standard installation flange – for easy installation of the ProfiSeal propeller shaft; this flange aligns and centres the seal with the stern tube, eliminating the need for costly welding or machining processes, specially on smaller boats and shaft sizes up to 50mm

Bulkhead seals

ProfiSeal bulkhead seals are designed for shafts with diameters ranging from 50mm to 600mm, and are type-approved by LR and of a design assessment of ABS.

They are installed in governmental ships and special crafts such as patrol boats, supply vessels, ferries, RoRo and RoPax ferries, as well as in commercial passenger ships, fast catamarans and yachts.

The unique seal ring balancing system prevents unnecessary shaft wear. The seals are dry-running gap-seals and allow very high shaft speeds of up to 40m/s. The fully split design allows installation and maintenance without pulling the shaft. ProfiSeal bulkhead seals prevent shaft-surface pitting corrosion.

Permitted shaft movement is as follows:

• Allowed radial shaft movement: +/-5mm

Fireproof bulkhead seals

With the fireproof bulkhead seal A60, ProfiSeal has set a new industry standard for fire protection of shaft penetrations. The fireproof bulkhead seal A60 is designed for shaft diameters ranging from 50mm to 500mm. They comply with IMO 2010 FTP Code, Part 3 and MSC85/26 standards.

Featuring electrically insulated shafts and bulkheads, the dry-running gap seals are easy to install, and do not interfere with cathodic protection systems.

Insulation and a sheet-metal cover are delivered with the seals, which can operate up to a maximum temperature of 950°C, and a gliding speed of 40m/s.

Intensive reals size tests have proven that this seal prevents fire and smoke gas going through the bulkhead for more than 60 minutes.

These seals are always customized in size to fulfil the specific requirements of each project. Since 2015 more than 80 projects have been finished successfully in various dimensions. Among these projects have been RoPax ferries, catamaran ferries, LNG tankers, oil spill recovery barges as well as marine projects and super yachts.

ProfiSeal fireproof bulkhead seals A60 are designed for shafts with diameters ranging from 50mm to 500mm, and are type-approved by DNV, KR and BV. Individual approvals have been granted by ABS and LR.

Permitted shaft movement is as follows:

• Allowed radial Movement +/- 5 mm
• Allowed axial Movement theoretical unlimited

Water-lubricated rubber bearings

ProfiSeal supplies seamless water-lubricated rubber bearings for shaft diameters from 20mm to more than 1,000mm, and gliding speeds from 0.05m/s up to 35m/s. The bearings are accepted by all major classification societies.

The whole range of water-lubricated shaft bearings:

• Are pollution-free
• Ensure low friction losses, low abrasive wear and long lifespan
• Achieve noise and vibration absorption

The bearing shells are manufactured from corrosion-resisting naval brass or GRP material and feature a tough, synthetic rubber lining. Alternative materials are also available.

References

ProfiSeal is a member of the German Boatbuilders Association (DBSV), the German Yacht Industry Pool Deutsche Yachten, specialising in the super-yacht sector as well as of Verband für Schiffbau und Meerestechnik e.V. (VSM), the association of the German shipbuilding and ocean industry. Please contact us for a list of reference projects.

For more information on any of our products, please contact us using the enquiry form on this page.