Abstract: A self-straining bolt comprises a hollow shank having a flanged and screw-threaded head at one end, a core member, a rod within the shank and secured to the other end of the shank a nut in screw-threaded engagement with the core bears against the shank at the said one end. The bolt is tensioned by means of a tensioning head comprising two coaxial jacking means, one for tensioning the hollow shank by bearing on the core member and the other for tensioning the core member by bearing on the shank head.

Abstract: In a stern seal and bearing assembly for the stern shaft of a ship there is an oil seal assembly at the outboard end of the bearing and a sea water seal (preferably a face seal) axially spaced from it, with a drain from the space between the two, and the oil seal assembly comprises a pair of lip seals directed towards each other with a drain from the space between them. The oil supply to the bearing can be at low pressure, for example simply the static head from a tank slightly above the level of the bearing, and the last-mentioned drain may have a swan neck above the oil level.

Abstract: The stern construction has an open channel let in to each side of the hull. The channel merges with the hull at its forward end and terminates in front of the upper part of the propeller disc at its rear end. The lower side of the channel is formed by a depending part of the hull which houses the tailshaft. The upper edge of each channel joins the part of the hull above the channel along a knuckle line. The upper side of the channel is disposed at an angle of inclination to the horizontal which decreases towards the rear of the ship so as to intercept the wake of the ship progressively and divert it into the upper part of the propeller disc.The invention is applicable to full bodied ships such as tankers.

Abstract: A shafting arrangement for a ship comprises a tailshaft supported in bearings in a stern tube which is rigidly mounted in the ship's hull. The tailshaft has a flange which is located in a self-aligning thrust bearing secured to the stern tube. The forward end of the tailshaft is coupled to one end of a tubular intermediate shaft by a first flexible diaphragm coupling which is secured at its periphery to the intermediate shaft and coupled by its hub to the tailshaft. A second flexible diaphragm coupling is secured at its periphery to the other end of the intermediate shaft and coupled by its hub to the output shaft of the propulsion unit or main gearing.