Retirement of Durban's deputy marine manager after 46 years' service

The busy seaport of Durban's deputy marine manager, Peter Johns, has retired after 46 years of marine service.

In 1970 Peter took up the position of chief marine engineer officer on tugs and dredgers. Over a period of ten years he conducted the first trials with Vesconite for propeller shaft bearings on a harbour pilot cutter, the RP Jackson.

Wear down on the twin propeller shaft bearings installed in "A" frame housings, was measured at regular dockings over a five year period and was found to be remarkably low, given the harbour waters in which the RP Jackson operated. In shallow areas in the harbour, the water invariably contains abrasive, suspended sand particles arising mainly from propeller wash. An advantage of the Vesconite bearings confirmed in the RP Jackson trials  was that the wear on the propeller shaft lining was substantially reduced.

During his association with the trial, Peter's thorough engineering approach and attention to detail made a significant contribution to what is probably the most accurately monitored and carefully controlled long term study ever carried out on propeller shaft bearings.

From the small but careful trials which Peter conducted in the 1970's, Vesconite has been proved as a premier product in the marine market in all four corners of the globe. Today Vesconite is accredited by most of the large shipping classification societies.

Everyone at VescoPlastics salutes Peter Johns and wishes him a happy retirement after so many years focused on the responsibilities of marine engineering.

Kind regards