A The report published on 25 August 2026 says an in-depth evaluation has made a capital expenditure case for Thordon Bearings' T-BOSS® sterntubeless shaftline system on Suezmax tankers.
The study, which used reference data from a Suezmax crude oil tanker, compared a sterntubeless T-BOSS® arrangement with a conventional oil-lubricated sterntube system and focused on the CAPEX implications of adopting the T-BOSS® solution. reports summarised the findings in a feature published on 25 August 2026.
Thordon Bearings' T-BOSS® name is expanded as Thordon – Blue Ocean Stern Space in the report, reflecting the supplier's description of the sterntubeless concept. The study is presented as a comprehensive evaluation of upfront expenditure for installation of the T-BOSS® system on a 274m Suezmax crude oil tanker reference case.
The analysis reported concentrated on how the sterntubeless shaftline alters the capital cost picture when compared with a traditional oil-lubricated sterntube solution. The study is framed as an examination of installation and arrangement choices rather than an operational performance trial.
Study focus and scope
According to the report, the evaluation relied on reference data from a Suezmax crude oil tanker and centred on the initial capital outlay required to adopt the sterntubeless T-BOSS® system. The study is described as assessing CAPEX for fitting the T-BOSS® arrangement to a 274m vessel of Suezmax proportions.
The coverage in reports emphasises the capital expenditure argument and positions the T-BOSS® system as an alternative to a conventional oil-lubricated sterntube. The report does not, in the material supplied for verification, set out detailed lifetime cost or performance figures.
Supplier framing and industry relevance
Thordon Bearings is identified in the report as the supplier promoting the sterntubeless shaftline solution. reports presents the study as making a case that the T-BOSS® arrangement has CAPEX attributes worthy of consideration by shipowners, designers and yards when assessing newbuilding or conversion options.
The article supplied for verification concentrates on the comparative capital case rather than reporting operational trials or fleet-level adoption. It therefore serves as an industry signal about one company's proposition rather than as an independent technical validation of long-term service outcomes.
The reports piece of 25 August 2026 brings the T-BOSS® system into current discussion as shipowners and naval architects weigh alternatives to oil-lubricated sterntubes. The study's reference to a 274m Suezmax tanker provides a specific vessel scale for the CAPEX assessment but the supplied summary does not extend to broader fleet analysis or regulatory implications.
Readers looking to test the findings will need access to the full evaluation material from the study or to direct technical data from Thordon Bearings. The verified notes provided for this report supply the study's principal claim, that an in-depth evaluation has made a CAPEX case for installing the T-BOSS® sterntubeless shaftline system on a 274m Suezmax crude oil tanker, and cite reports as the outlet publishing the report on 25 August 2026.
Key factual points drawn from the supplied report summary include:
• The study used reference data from a Suezmax crude oil tanker.
• It compared a sterntubeless T-BOSS® shaftline solution with a conventional oil-lubricated sterntube system.
• The exercise focused on assessing capital expenditure for fitting the T-BOSS® system to a 274m Suezmax reference case.
The supplied notes do not provide further quantitative details or operational test results, and no additional claims have been introduced beyond those verified from The report dated 25 August 2026.