ISO 7496-2:2022

Overview

ISO 7496-2:2022, titled Ships and marine technology - Vocabulary on inland navigation vessels - Part 2: Ship’s shaftings, is an international standard published by ISO that provides clear and precise terminology related to the shafting systems of inland navigation vessels. This standard is specifically designed for the shafting equipment used on vessels operating in inland waterways, ensuring unambiguous understanding among marine engineers, shipbuilders, and other specialists.

The document aims to harmonize terms and definitions associated with ship shaftings including shaft lines, gears, bearings, and sealing devices. By standardizing vocabulary, ISO 7496-2 facilitates proper communication, documentation, and international cooperation in the inland navigation sector, which lies outside the regulatory scope of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Key Topics

• Ship Shafting Concepts: Defines ship shafting as a structurally complex system linking the main engine to the propulsion unit, designed to transmit torque and axial loads safely.
• Shafting Elements: Covers individual components such as shafts, bearings, gears, and connectors forming the propulsion shaft line.
• Stern Tube Gear: Terms related to the assembly that houses the propeller shaft passage, including stern tubes, supporting bearings, sealing gear, and lubrication systems.
• Sealing Gear: Elements preventing water ingress into the ship hull or oil leakage from stern tube compartments.
• Shafting Bearings: Definitions for shaft support bearings, thrust bearings, stern tube bearings, external and bracket bearings designed to manage mechanical loads.
• Special Devices: Includes shaft-turning gear for propulsion preparation, braking devices for locking the shaft, current collecting devices to prevent electrochemical corrosion, tachometers, and torsionometers for measuring rotation speed and torque.

Applications

ISO 7496-2:2022 is crucial for:

• Marine Engineering and Design: Facilitating clear specifications and technical documentation when designing or retrofitting inland navigation vessel shaftings.
• Manufacturing and Maintenance: Enabling manufacturers, maintenance teams, and shipyards to communicate precise ship shafting components and their functions, improving safety and reliability.
• International Inland Waterway Operations: Enhancing cross-border cooperation by standardizing terminology used in training, operation manuals, and inspection reports for inland vessels.
• Integration of Smart Technologies: Laying the groundwork for machine-readable standards to support digital transformation and smart shipping technologies in inland navigation.

Related Standards

ISO 7496-2:2022 is part of the broader ISO 7496 series on vocabulary for inland navigation vessels. It complements other maritime and inland waterway standards addressing vessels’ structural and technical systems. Additionally, it aligns with:

• ISO/IEC Directives: Ensuring compliance with editorial and technical standardization procedures.
• IEC Electropedia and ISO OBP: Terminology databases supporting consistent use of technical terms in marine and electrotechnical fields.

For professionals in shipbuilding, inland marine operations, and marine technology development, ISO 7496-2 offers authoritative guidance on shafting terminology, improving clarity, efficiency, and safety in inland vessel propulsion systems.

Keywords: inland navigation vessels, ship shaftings, propulsion system, stern tube gear, sealing gear, shaft bearings, marine technology, ISO 7496-2, inland waterways, ship propulsion vocabulary.