Marine
The marine industry is facing an ongoing increase in regulation and scrutiny on emissions, discharge and acceptable lubricants. Applications that have been historically lubricated via grease or oil are being redesigned to accommodate environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL). This transition is introducing a new set of logistical challenges in sourcing acceptable products and compatibility with existing designs and sealing solutions.
Vessel operators are looking to composite bearing solutions to perform in a wide variety of conditions and applications. From water lubricated bearings as replacements of existing rubber, other plastics, or wood products, to high load steering components in lieu of greased bronze materials operating above and below the water line. Columbia Industrial Products offers a solution to the marine industry with its specially designed material, CIP Marine™, that has low coefficient of friction and excellent wear characteristics paired with fast and superior service to help with unexpected dry docking time.
Emergency Support Available for Custom Sizes
Marine
Types of Marine Vessels
CIP has been manufacturing, and machining composite bearing products for the Marine Industry since 1998, and offers broad experience applying self-lubricating bearing solutions into steering, propulsion and deck equipment. CIP Marine™ bearings have been fitted on a wide range of vessels from the finest pleasure craft to large tanker ships.
Columbia Industrial Products offers custom size diameter bearings ranging from 1/2 inch to 65 inches, with emergency support and next day shipping options, making them a leader in the marine industry for composite bearing products.

Tug and Work Boats

Tankers and Cargo

Marine Construction

Motor and Sail Yachts

Fishing Boats
Marine
Steering & Propulsion
The marine industry continues to innovate, using advanced propulsion designs, improved hull design, and a mix of novel and historical building practices to produce vessels with higher operating efficiencies, and enhanced safety and monitoring systems. Vessel operators are looking for alternative solutions for reducing costs and extended service intervals.
Stern tube and rudder bearings made from CIP Composite materials are ideal for replacing rubber lined, wood products and bronze. Columbia Industrial Products offers emergency support, minimizing dry dock time. CIP Composites are easily machined onsite and can be freeze fitted or press fitted. Our knowledgeable team can provide technical support for the design calculations for interference and clearance fits for your application.
We recommend using CIP Marine™ and CIP 252 for most marine applications. Our sales team will recommend the best material for your specific application.
Benefits
- Environmentally friendly
- Self-lubricating
- Suited for fresh or salt water environments
- Low coefficient of friction
- Negligible water swell
- High edge and shock load capabilities

Propeller shaft bearing designs can include axial grooves to provide better water flow and lubrication in high speed applications and help promote better hydrodynamic operation.

Installed CIP Strut Bearing

CIP Marine rudder bearings generally do not include axial radial grooves and are smooth on the inside. Easily installed and machined in place.
Marine
Stabilizer Systems
Oil leakage and lubricant discharges from marine equipment such as fin stabilizers are causing marine operators to find alternative solutions to previous standard grease and oil systems. Although the EPA has provided accommodations allowing the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL), the better alternative is to replace bearing grease systems altogether with water lubricated materials.
CIP Composite fin stabilizer bearings are water lubricated with the added ability to have axial grooves machined into the bearing, providing better water flow and lubrication. Columbia Industrial Products offers emergency support, minimizing dock time. CIP Composites are easily machined onsite and can be freeze fitted or press fitted. Our knowledgeable team can provide technical support for the design calculations for interference and clearance fits for your application.
We recommend using CIP Marine™ and CIP 252 for most marine applications. Our sales team will recommend the best material for your specific application.
Benefits
- Environmentally friendly
- Self-lubricating
- Suited for fresh or salt water environments
- Low coefficient of friction
- Negligible water swell
- High edge and shock load capabilities
Marine
Vessel Maneuvering
Cruise liners and large ship owners need to keep the balance of maintaining a ship, while keeping down time to a minimum. Thrusters are a vital roll in the safety of docking ships on a regular basis, replacing bronzed greasing systems with CIP Composites can extend the service life of the bearing while decreasing the vibration and promoting a smooth quiet operation caused by bronze bearings.
CIP Composite thruster bearings are water lubricated with the added ability to have axial grooves machined into the bearing, providing better water flow and lubrication. Columbia Industrial Products offers emergency support, minimizing dock time. CIP Composites are easily machined onsite and can be freeze fitted or press fitted. Our knowledgeable team can provide technical support for the design calculations for interference and clearance fits for your application.
We recommend using CIP Marine™ and CIP 252 for most marine applications. Our sales team will recommend the best material and design for your specific application.
Benefits
- Environmentally friendly
- Self-lubricating
- Suited for fresh or salt water environments
- Low coefficient of friction
- Negligible water swell
- High edge and shock load capabilities
Marine
Deck Equipment
CIP Composites have found success in replacing bronze in a variety of deck equipment applications and have the ability to work above or below the water line without the need for grease lubrication. We offer maintenance free solutions that isolate dissimilar metals preventing galvanic corrosion as well as provide electrical isolation through deck components.
CIP Composites have been used for fairlead and fairlead rollers, winches, capstans, stern rollers, a-frames, davits, cranes, skidding pads, and hatch covers. Our sales department will work with you to choose the best CIP material for your application.
Benefits:
- Self-lubricating
- Stable in fresh or salt water environments
- Environmentally friendly
- Low coefficient of friction
- Low thermal expansion
- Easy to machine
- Replaces bronze
CIP Composite fairlead roller for use with synthetic rope only.