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GE Marine and Lloyd’s Register report that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to identify potential gas turbine-powered commercial ship projects. GE Marine is one of the world's leading manufacturers of marine propulsion systems, products and services. Lloyd’s Register helps clients to safely design, build and maintain ships, oil rigs, rail networks and power stations, and is a key player in supporting innovation in shipping - to reduce both environmental impact and to improve ship performance.

"Through the MoU we will identify target segments and commercial customers for our highly-efficient marine gas turbine systems," said Brien Bolsinger, Vice President, Marine Operations, GE Marine, Evendale, Ohio. "GE already has an established base of 90 marine gas turbines operating on 17 cruise ships, five high speed yachts and 19 fast ferries."

GE gas turbine systems are unique in their ability to offer power density (i.e., high power in a light weight, small footprint), fuel flexibility, and an optional, highly reliable Dry Low NOx emissions (DLE) combustion system technology. GE's DLE combustion system can meet Tier III IMO/Tier IV United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements now with no exhaust treatment when operating on natural gas or on liquid fuels in combined cycle.

In fact, according to Bolsinger, "GE’s industrial LM2500 family fleet has logged nearly 70 million hours operating on natural gas, of which 20 million hours were dual fuel applications. In addition, the 585 industrial applications that use our DLE combustion system have logged more than 12 million hours. Separately land-based operators report a 99.9% reliability rate across our gas turbine fleet."

"This MoU will allow us to work with some of the leading shipyards to approve in principle GE gas turbine-powered commercial vessels for global customers," said Nick Brown, Marine Chief Operating Officer, Lloyd’s Register. "We can assist shipping industry stakeholders with understanding how the technical performance of these gas turbines can help meet commercial requirements. We always welcome ship owners and operators who would like to participate in joint development projects involving new applications."

The MoU is separate of an announcement made in December 2013, whereby GE Marine, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) and Lloyd’s Register have jointly developed a design for a gas turbine-powered LNG carrier. This carrier is due to provide low life cycle cost, high environmental performance and flexible design.

The initial LNG carrier design will be built around a GE gas turbine-based Combined Gas turbine Electric and Steam system (COGES) that will feature one 30-megawatt gas turbine, one steam turbine generator-set and two dual-fuel diesel generator-sets for low power operation and backup. However, the carrier will allow for flexible configuration of prime movers, offering total installed power of more than 50 MW, if required. Approval in Principle for the COGES arrangement is expected shortly, Lloyd’s Register said.

Image: Tom Boardley, LR's Marine Director (left) and Brien Bolsinger, Vice President, Marine Operations, GE Marine signing the MoU.