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In 2022, the HMS Prince of Wales suffered a fractured coupling due to shaft misalignment. The result was a repair bill estimated at £25 million and months of operational downtime. It showed how a hidden drivetrain issue can derail even the most advanced vessels.
The bigger concern is how many ships are still relying on tools and inspections that only catch problems after they have started.
The misalignment debate misses a bigger risk
Most teams already understand the risks of waiting until vibration levels spike or wear becomes visible.
The challenge is not awareness, it is having the right tools in place to monitor continuously, catch issues early, and act before the cost escalates.
Some tools still rely on operator presence and manual inspection
Many systems still require engineers to be on board, stop machinery, or carry out manual checks under controlled conditions. This gives only a single snapshot of performance, often missing what happens during real operational load, speed changes, or sea conditions.
These gaps can lead to missed warnings on emerging faults, including bearing damage, misalignment, looseness, and resonance.
Ongoing diagnostics give a better view of shaft health
Icon Research provides continuous condition monitoring that captures vibration, temperature, and shaft behaviour as it happens. This approach highlights early-stage problems long before they become critical.
With real-time visibility into drivetrain condition, teams can:
- Track vibration and bearing trends remotely
- Detect wear patterns during actual operating conditions
- Plan maintenance before efficiency or reliability drops
Product that keeps working when your crew cannot
WiVib X is a compact wireless sensor that monitors vibration and temperature in hard-to-access areas like engine rooms, propulsion systems, and enclosed shafts. It delivers real-time diagnostics without needing anyone on-site to inspect the equipment. Multiple sensors can be connected across a vessel using wireless gateways, making it easy to scale.
Icon Research’s software, including tools for PC and Android devices, lets technical managers and maintenance teams view live data, set alarms, and track long-term trends. This helps speed up decision-making and allows early action before problems escalate.
Scalable monitoring across your vessel fleet
Icon Research systems are designed for long-term use with minimal disruption. No disassembly, no drydock visits, no one-off checks. Once installed, they deliver ongoing data that supports better asset management.
This makes it easy to:
- Equip multiple vessels with consistent monitoring
- View condition reports from a central location
- Reduce dependence on onboard inspections
Whether it is component wear, misalignment, or fuel loss from mechanical inefficiencies, the longer issues go unnoticed, the more expensive they become.
Icon Research systems give your team the data it needs to move from reactive maintenance to forward planning. That means fewer surprises, longer equipment life, and better control over maintenance budgets.
For more information on our products, visit https://iconresearch.co.uk/condition-monitoring/wireless-monitoring/.
