GUIDANCE NOTES ON PROPULSION SHAFTING ALIGNMENT - SEPTEMBER 2019

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

Guidance Notes on Propulsion Shafting Alignment (September 2019) from American Bureau of Shipping clarify alignment design and practices to support ABS Surveyors and plan review engineers in verifying survey and plan approval consistency. The document explains how ABS analytical tools and alignment optimization software can analyze complex propulsion installations and help produce optimized alignment solutions. This edition adds content on alignment condition monitoring, alignment problems and solutions, survey requirements, stern tube bearing clearance measurement, hull deflections application, and reverse engineering calculation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages156

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

SECTION 1 Introduction to Propulsion Shafting Alignment

1 General

2 Objectives

3 The Shaft Alignment Challenge

4 Rule Requirements

5 Shaft Alignment Survey

6 Commitment to Safety

SECTION 2 Shaft Alignment Design and Review

1 General

2 Review vs. Design

3 Review

4 Design

GUIDANCE NOTES ON PROPULSION SHAFTING ALIGNMENT SEPTEMBER 2019 American Bureau of Shipping Incorporated by Act of Legislature of the State of New York 1862 􀂔 2019 American Bureau of Shipping. All rights reserved. 1701 City Plaza Drive Spring, TX 77389 USA Foreword ABS identified the need to provide a more detailed explanation of alignment design and practices, which resulted in the development of the Guidance Notes on Propulsion Shafting Alignment. Their primary purpose is to provide clarification for ABS Surveyors and plan review engineers to verify consistency of the survey and plan approval processes. Regarding the shaft alignment design and implementation efforts by the shipbuilding industry, these Guidance Notes are valuable to further advance its approach towards shaft alignment analyses and procedures. Additionally, ABS has developed state-of-the-art analytical tools primarily for the purpose of engineering analysis and design. The ABS shaft alignment program, combined with alignment optimization software, is capable of analyzing complex propulsion installations and, when used as a design tool, may provide an optimized solution to the alignment problem. This 2019 edition is arranged to include additional topics on shaft alignment condition monitoring and a section dedicated to alignment problems and their solutions. Shaft alignment survey requirements are summarized in the introduction and are addressed further under a separate section on shaft alignment procedures and practices. Discussion on alignment calculation and measurement is expanded to include the stern tube bearing clearance measurement. Additional clarification is provided on the application of the hull deflections, alignment optimization, propulsion systems with no forward stern tube bearing, and reverse engineering calculation. These Guidance Notes become effective on the first day of the month of publication. Users are advised to check periodically [on the ABS website www.eagle.org](on the ABS website www.eagle.org) to verify that this version of these Guidance Notes is the most current. We welcome your feedback. Comments or suggestions can be sent electronically by email [to rsd@eagle.org](to rsd@eagle.org). Terms of Use The information presented herein is intended solely to assist the reader in the methodologies and/or techniques discussed. These Guidance Notes do not and cannot replace the analysis and/or advice of a qualified professional. It is the responsibility of the reader to perform their own assessment and obtain professional advice. Information contained herein is considered to be pertinent at the time of publication but may be invalidated as a result of subsequent legislations, regulations, standards, methods, and/or more updated information and the reader assumes full responsibility for compliance. Where there is a conflict between this document and the applicable ABS Rules and Guides, the latter will govern. This publication may not be copied or redistributed in part or in whole without prior written consent from ABS. ii ABS GUIDANCE NOTES ON PROPULSION SHAFTING ALIGNMENT . 2019 GUIDANCE NOTES ON PROPULSION SHAFTING ALIGNMENT CONTENTS SECTION 1 Introduction to Propulsion Shafting Alignment .................................. 1 1 General ............................................................................................... 1 2 Objectives ...........................................................................................2 3 The Shaft Alignment Challenge ..........................................................3 3.1 Modern Vessel Design .................................................................... 3 3.2 Shaft Alignment Design ................................................................... 4 3.3 Solution to the Alignment Challenge ............................................... 5 3.4 Analytical Support ..........................................................

FAQs

Who are the guidance notes intended for?

They are primarily intended to clarify alignment design and practices for ABS Surveyors and plan review engineers to verify consistency of survey and plan approval processes.

What is new in the September 2019 edition?

It includes added topics on shaft alignment condition monitoring and a dedicated section for alignment problems and their solutions, along with expanded discussion on alignment calculation and measurement.

When do the guidance notes become effective and how can users verify the latest version?

They become effective on the first day of the month of publication. Users are advised to periodically check the ABS website for the most current version.

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai