The shaft section in a ship's shaft system is located between the aft flange of the thrust shaft and the bow flange of the propeller shaft. The length and number of sections of the intermediate shaft are determined based on the installation position of the host and the diameter of the shaft system. The function of the intermediate shaft is to transmit the power generated by the main engine to the propeller shaft and to transmit the thrust generated by the propeller to the thrust bearing. Some stern-engine ships have very short shaft systems, even without intermediate shafts, which are called short shaft systems. For medium engine ships, the intermediate shaft system is longer and usually requires multiple intermediate shafts, known as the long shaft system. The long-axis system can compensate for the impact of ship deformation. If some intermediate shafts pass through the partition packing box of the watertight compartment, the packing box should be loosened normally, not under load, and only compressed in case of danger. The intermediate shaft has a journal for bearing support. Considering the wear of metal, the diameter of these journals should be slightly larger than the diameter of the rest of the shaft. The intermediate shaft is mostly solid. To reduce the weight of the ship's machinery, it has been made hollow. The intermediate shaft flange is often connected with light bolts. It also has detachable couplings.

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