Thruster Solutions
Stop Leakage, Water Ingress & Seal Suppor
Common Thruster Challenges
Thruster systems operate under frequent manoeuvring, varying loads, pressure changes, seawater exposure, and demanding seal conditions. Over time, these conditions can affect lubrication performance, increase wear, and contribute to oil leakage, water ingress, reduced seal performance, and operational uncertainty.
Oil Leakage
Seal leakage can increase oil consumption, create maintenance pressure, and affect thruster operation.
Water Ingress
Water contamination may reduce lubricant performance and increase wear, corrosion risk, or oil instability.
Seal & Wear Issues
Repeated manoeuvring, vibration, and fluctuating loads can affect seal stability and component life.
Operational Instability
Thruster-related issues can create uncertainty during manoeuvring, station keeping, or planned operations.
Two Thruster Lubrication Systems
Thruster systems can operate with different lubricant types. AddVation therefore distinguishes between two product platforms:
TH Thruster — for thruster systems operating with mineral hydraulic oil.
THG Thruster-Gear — for thruster systems operating with mineral gear oil.
Within each platform, Core, Plus, and Max are selected according to the operating conditions and severity of the leakage or water ingress.
Thruster Technical Insight
Learn more about the solution structure, product selection logic,
and application factors behind our thruster range.
Built Around Thruster Operating Conditions
Thruster systems operate under demanding and variable load conditions that may affect sealing, lubrication, and long-term component performance.
Key operating factors include:
- Frequent start-stop operation
- High load variation during manoeuvring
- Directional changes and vibration
- Seal exposure under changing pressure conditions
- Lubricant stress, temperature variation, and contamination risk
Why it matters:
Over time, these conditions may contribute to oil leakage, seal wear, reduced lubrication stability, and increased uncertainty around thruster reliability.
A Progressive Solution Structure
The thruster range is structured from preventive protection to stronger sealing support across two lubricant platforms:
TH — for thruster systems operating with mineral hydraulic oil
THG — for thruster systems operating with mineral gear oil
Within each platform, the range follows the same four application levels:
Guard — preventive protection for stable systems
Seal Core — standard support for smaller leakage cases
Seal Plus — reinforced support for moderate leakage or more demanding conditions
Seal Max — maximum support for severe leakage cases
This creates a consistent product structure across both TH and THG systems.
Product Selection Factors
The right product depends on the actual thruster system and operating situation.
Typical selection factors include:
- Leakage behaviour and development over time
- Thruster oil volume
- Lubricant type currently in use
- Seal condition and wear pattern
- Operating profile, manoeuvring intensity, and load variation
- Service objective before next maintenance window or dry dock
Why it matters:
These factors help determine whether the focus should be preventive protection, standard sealing support, or stronger leakage mitigation for demanding thruster conditions.
Technical Review Before Application
Before application, the thruster system should be reviewed to ensure the correct product platform, product level, and treatment quantity are selected.
As part of this process, AddVation normally provides a Customer System Assessment document to collect the relevant technical and operating information for the specific thruster system.
Typical review points include:
- Thruster type and system configuration
- Thruster oil volume
- Current oil leakage and/or water ingress level
- Lubricant type and viscosity
- Seal condition and service history
- Operating profile and load variation
- Filtration setup and system cleanliness
The information collected through the Customer System Assessment forms the basis for selecting the appropriate TH or THG platform, the relevant Guard, Core, Plus, or Max product level, and the treatment quantity for the specific application.
Why it matters:
A structured system assessment helps ensure that the selected product is matched to the actual thruster system, lubricant type, system condition, and operating environment.
Want to learn more about thruster systems?
Read our technical overview of marine thruster types, lubrication,
sealing, water ingress, oil leakage, and lifecycle performance.
Need help selecting the correct Thruster Solution?
Send us your vessel details, and we'll help assess dosage, application, and compatibility.