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Karl Matson News

12 Aug 2003

GE Gas Turbines Power Three New Cruise Ships

GE announced that three new cruise ships recently went into service powered by GE LM aeroderivative gas turbines. The three ships -- Serenade of the Seas, Island Princess and Oosterdam -- each took their maiden voyage during July 2003. “GE is delighted to see the number of cruise ships continue to rise steadily that rely on our reliable and efficient LM gas turbines for propulsion as well as onboard power,” said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. “To date, 22 LM2500+ and four LM2500 GE gas turbine-generator sets are in operation or slated for service on 21 cruise ships.

15 Nov 2001

GE To Provide Maintenance And Support For Canadian Navy's Gas Turbine-Based Frigate Fleet

GE Canada has signed a commercial maintenance and logistics support contract with Canada's Public Works Government Services. Under this multi-year contract, GE will provide maintenance and logistical support services for the Canadian Navy's fleet of LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines used to power Halifax-class patrol frigates. "This is a unique contract because it represents GE's growing trend to provide both military and commercial marine customers with single-point sourcing and comprehensive maintenance solutions," said Pierre Ayotte, Director, Government Programs for GE Canada. The contract will provide the Canadian Navy with a decrease in administrative functions such as procurement, inspection and technical support and material and inventory management associated with the LM2500.

13 Jan 2004

Queen Mary 2 Sets Sail with GE LM2500s

The world’s largest transatlantic liner, the Queen Mary 2, set sail on its maiden voyage powered by two GE LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbine-generator sets and four diesel generator-sets. The new flagship of the British merchant fleet, owned by Cunard Line, will take 14 days to sail from Southampton in the United Kingdom to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A special highlight of Queen Mary 2’s inaugural schedule will be her maiden eastbound crossing from New York on April 25 as both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 sail in tandem.

13 Jan 2004

Queen Mary 2 Sets Sail with GE LM2500s

The world’s largest transatlantic liner, the Queen Mary 2, set sail on its maiden voyage powered by two GE LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbine-generator sets and four diesel generator-sets. The new flagship of the British merchant fleet, owned by Cunard Line, will take 14 days to sail from Southampton in the United Kingdom to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A special highlight of Queen Mary 2’s inaugural schedule will be her maiden eastbound crossing from New York on April 25 as both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 sail in tandem.

16 Mar 2004

GE Focuses on Optimization For Cruise Ships

The natural progression is underway from installation, design and commissioning of GE gas turbines aboard cruise ships to cooperation with users to further enhance operations. GE is focusing its efforts on optimizing maintenance and improved system reliability, the company reported today at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention. "The use of gas turbines to power cruise ships was long in coming, so it seems fitting that the four years since the world's first gas turbine-powered cruise ship set out on its maiden voyage have gone by quickly," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine. Celebrity Cruises' Millennium is the first cruise ship to use gas turbines.

05 Aug 2004

GE Gets USN Certification for LM2500+

GE Transportation's marine business received United States Navy certification for its LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbine. The LM2500+ has been certified by the U.S. Navy for 35,000 brake horsepower (bhp) for mechanical drive applications. The LM2500+ received the certification for use powering the U.S. Navy's eighth LHD and follow-on ships in the WASP (LHD 1) class of large-deck, multipurpose amphibious assault ships. "The LHD 8 will be the first military application of the LM2500+, and we are very pleased with the achievement of this major milestone in the history of the LM2500 engine family. We believe the LHD program will pave the way for the use of the LM2500+ for a variety of future domestic and international naval programs…

15 Jan 2002

GE Marine Engines Extends MSS Agreement with MTU

GE Marine Engines announced it has extended its Marine System Supplier (MSS) agreement with MTU Friedrichshafen (MTU), covering MTU's packaging and distribution of GE LM marine aeroderivative gas turbines. "Our successful MSS agreement with MTU dates back to the 1970s," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. "This relationship has made it possible for our LM1600, LM2500 and LM2500+ gas turbines to be used alone or in combination with MTU diesel engines from their full line of diesel engines. GE LM gas turbines cover the power range from 4,500 kilowatts (kW) to 42,700 kW. To date, MTU has packaged several GE LM gas turbines for commercial fast ferries and military vessels.

21 May 2002

GE Marine Engines Power Final Sealift Ship

GE Marine Engines’ LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines and main reduction gears power the eighth and final Strategic Sealift ship, the USNS Soderman, recently launched by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO). “GE is proud to have supplied the engines, gears and automation systems for the eighth Sealift ship. This brings the total number of U.S. Navy ships fitted with GE’s gas turbines to 192,” said Karl Matson, General Manager of GE Marine Engines. “Our engines continue to provide the Navy with outstanding reliability, logging over 7.5 million operating hours in service for our country,” Matson added. Two GE LM2500s are used on each gas turbine-powered Sealift vessel. The gas turbines offer 32,000 horsepower -- a special rating for the Sealift operating profile.

16 Nov 2004

GE to Supply Korean Destroyer

GE Transportation’s marine gas turbine operations will supply Samsung Techwin Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea with 12 LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines. The Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy will use the gas turbines for its next-generation KDX Type III destroyer. “We are very pleased that the Republic of Korea Navy has extended its vote of confidence in the GE family and the LM2500 gas turbine system for the KDX-III program,” said Karl Matson, general manger of GE Transportation’s marine operations, Evendale, Ohio. Hyundai or Daewoo Shipyards in Korea are building a total of three KDX Type III destroyers, each of which weigh more than 7,000 tons. The vessels will be equipped with AEGIS combat systems.

09 Dec 2004

GE Begins Testing for ABS Certification for LM6000 Gas Turbine

GE Transportation's marine gas turbine business has launched a program to obtain American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification, to the Steel Vessel and the new Naval Vessel Rules, for its LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine. GE plans to certify the LM6000 at a power level greater than 36 megawatts based on United States Navy standard day conditions (100oF). "The LM6000 has been operating for more than 10 years in diverse marine environments. In fact, LM6000s have accumulated more than 290,000 hours on floating, production, storage and off-loading vessels, and aboard commercial power barges and offshore platforms," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Transportation's marine business, Evendale, Ohio.

10 Jan 2005

Propulsion Notes

Wärtsilä has decided to cooperate with MTS within the marine e-business market and has through the MTS infrastructure integrated its Spares Online service. Spares Online gives ship owners/operators full control of their parts ordering and delivery process directly in their existing purchasing system. Spares Online keeps track of all ship owners / operators installations and provides an updated view of the equipment installed in their plant. GE Transportation's marine gas turbine business has launched a program to obtain American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification, to the Steel Vessel and the new Naval Vessel Rules, for its LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine. GE plans to certify the LM6000 at a power level greater than 36 MW based on U.S. Navy standard day conditions (100oF).

15 Mar 2005

GE Aeroderivative Marine Gas Turbines Log more than 320,000 Service Hours

GE announced that its fleet of 25 aeroderivative marine gas turbines has accumulated more than 320,000 hours operating aboard 16 cruise ships. GE remains the only gas turbine manufacturer to have its engines in service on cruise ships, the company reported today at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention. "We are setting a new reliability standard in the cruise industry for propulsion and onboard power," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Transportation's marine business, Evendale, Ohio. The GE gas turbines now in service are configured in two different types of arrangements: 16 LM2500+ gas turbines are the basis for a COmbined Gas turbine and steam turbine integrated Electric drive System (COGES) used aboard four Celebrity Cruises and four Royal Caribbean International cruise ships…

04 May 2005

GE to Supply IHI with LM2500 Gas Turbines

GE Transportation's marine gas turbine business announced it will supply Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Co. Ltd. (IHI) with four GE LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines. The engines will power the first of a new class of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) helicopter-carrying destroyers. The first vessel will be know as the 16DDH, and it is anticipated that at least one additional DDH destroyer will be built in the coming years. The 13,500-ton DDH destroyer will use two propulsion trains, each consisting of two LM2500s in a COmbined Gas turbine And Gas turbine configuration (COGAG), driving a propeller through a gearbox. The engines will each provide 25,000 shaft horsepower.

06 Mar 2006

GE Targets LCS Business

GE – Marine has been issued updated certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbine. The amended certification reflects compliance to “2004 Naval Vessel Rules 2-3-1,” qualifying the LM2500 gas turbine to be applied in the propulsion system for the United States Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). “The updated ABS certification – coupled with the LM2500’s compliance with existing ABS rules – was the last step necessary to qualify the LM2500 gas turbine for use in General Dynamics’ LCS propulsion system,” said Karl Matson, general manager, GE – Marine, Evendale, Ohio. “This is yet…

20 Sep 2002

GE Marine Engines’ LM Gas Turbines Exceed 600,000 Hours

GE Marine Engines announced that 36 GE LM aeroderivative gas turbines have accumulated more than 600,000 hours operating aboard 16 fast ferries. Fast ferry operators have selected our gas turbines for a variety of propulsion system configurations. This milestone further demonstrates the outstanding reliability and availability of the LM gas turbines for fast ferry applications,” said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. The Stena Explorer, a Highspeed Sea Service (HSS) catamaran, is the fast ferry that has operated the longest using GE gas turbines. The ship, which began operation in June 1996, is still in service today.

09 Sep 2002

GE Marine Engines’ LM Gas Turbines Exceed 600,000 Hours

GE Marine Engines announced that 36 GE LM aeroderivative gas turbines have accumulated more than 600,000 hours operating aboard 16 fast ferries. "Fast ferry operators have selected our gas turbines for a variety of propulsion system configurations. This milestone further demonstrates the outstanding reliability and availability of the LM gas turbines for fast ferry applications," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. The Stena Explorer, a Highspeed Sea Service (HSS) catamaran, is the fast ferry that has operated the longest using GE gas turbines. The ship, which began operation in June 1996, is still in service today.

24 Aug 2005

LM6000 Gas Turbine Passes Test

GE Transportation announced that an LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine recently completed the 500-hour power generation phase of endurance testing towards American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification. GE is seeking ABS certification to the Steel Vessel and the new Naval Vessel Rules for its LM6000. GE plans to certify the LM6000 at a power level greater than 36 megawatts based on United States Navy standard day conditions (100oF). The 500-hour mechanical drive portion of testing will follow shortly, with GE on schedule to receive ABS certification in 2006. The LM6000 being used in the ABS qualification test is a standard production LM6000PC liquid fuel engine, with no modifications required to meet ABS Naval Vessel Rules requirements.

17 Dec 2002

GE Celebrates Cruise Milestone

GE Marine Engines' LM aeroderivative gas turbines made a splash in the cruise industry in 2002. As this year comes to an end, several milestones including sea trials, maiden voyages and equipment deliveries are occurring. "GE continuously demonstrates to the cruise industry the reliability and ease of operation our LM gas turbines provide," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. "In addition, the environmentally friendly features inherent in our gas turbine design have set a new propulsion system standard for cruise ship owners and operators, helping to make each project unique," Matson stated. The gas turbine-generator sets for all of the following projects were sold and packaged by GE Aero Energy Products (GE AEP)…

21 Aug 2001

GE Marine Engines To Outfit Queen Mary 2 With Gas Turbine Power

GE Marine Engines announced that its LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbine has been selected for use aboard Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 transatlantic liner. Upon completion in 2003, this will be the world's largest passenger vessel. "We faced strong competition for the Cunard order, but the LM2500+ prevailed with its unmatched experience in various marine applications," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Marine Engines. "We are very excited to be an integral part of this important program," Matson added. The liner will use two GE LM2500+ gas turbine generator sets in a Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine (CODAG) configuration with four diesel engines. Top speed is expected to reach 30 knots.

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