Swedish Maritime Administration strengthens the performance of icebreakers with LineLaze
The Swedish Maritime Administration has invested in LineLazer, a wireless laser-based system for shaft alignment with an associated app from SPM Instrument, to ensure optimal performance on its five icebreakers. The innovative technology aims to reduce excessive vibration on motors, fans, and pumps to avoid waste of energy and damage to ball bearings and couplings.
The Swedish Maritime Administration is a governmental agency responsible for maritime safety and availability in Sweden. Their services include breaking ice at sea, assisting ships facing navigation issues, and ensuring that Swedish ports can remain open all year round. The icebreakers assist merchant vessels with traffic monitoring, routing, guiding, and towing.
The agency has now decided to equip its icebreakers with LineLazer, the latest shaft alignment technology from SPM Instrument. The purpose is to proactively manage and prevent potential issues related to poor shaft alignment on motors, fans, and pumps, which can impact vessel performance and profitability. The order also includes stainless steel shims in six dimensions and ten different thicknesses to provide precise alignment.
Fredrik Arréhn, Technical Manager at the icebreaker IB Ymer, comments: "We look forward to using LineLazer to save work hours and increase the reliability of some of our most critical systems. It is a long-awaited capability that we have been lacking."
LineLazer is a laser-based alignment system with dual alignment sensors featuring line lasers for quick and reliable shaft alignment. The incorporated app provides clear guidance along the alignment process through an intuitive 3D interface.
The Swedish Maritime Administration owns five icebreakers: Ale, Atle, Frej, Oden, and Ymer. Ale is specially designed to navigate Lake Vänern via the narrow Trollhättan locks. Atle, Frej, and Ymer are designed to handle all possible ice conditions in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The Polar Class vessel Oden is a combined icebreaker and research vessel equipped with advanced scientific instruments. It is one of the leading research platforms in polar seas, having undertaken several visits to Antarctica and the North Pole.
The Swedish Maritime Administration's investment in LineLazer is essential to ensuring its icebreaker fleet's high performance and long lifespan.