Alstom Power Conversion News

GE’s Power Conversion (NYSE: GE) business has started fitting the latest generation of Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships Wave Knight and Wave Ruler. The technology is designed extend the life and versatility of the IPMS fitted to the two ships, helping the RFA to maintain at-sea supply capabilities in supporting the Royal Navy’s global maritime operations. The IPMS includes machinery control and surveillance, damage surveillance and control, electrical power control and management and Replenishment at Sea (RAS) functions.

On October 18, 2001, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced the award of a $406.9 million competitive contract for the detailed design and construction of the lead ship of the T-AKE Auxiliary Cargo and Ammunition Class to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, Calif. Major subcontractors are IMECO of Iron Mountain, Mich.; Hopeman Brothers Marine Interiors of Waynesboro, Va.; Alstom Power Conversion Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa.; B.F. Eight Power Inc. of Belle Chasse, La.; Lake Shore Inc. Performance Contracting Inc. Scarborough, Maine; and SIPCO of Willis, Texas. Additionally, NAVSEA exercised a contract option in the amount of $301.6 million for the detailed design and construction of the first follow ship.

By Stuart C. Karon and Dr. In the September 2002 issue of Maritime Reporter and Engineering News, a detailed discussion was featured on the advantages of future High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) machinery for propulsion of electric drive ships. • Motors A 5-MW 230-rpm machine for the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) is undergoing factory tests. ONR is now funding the next step - design, fabrication and factory testing of a 36.5-MW 120-rpm machine to prove the technology at full-scale for warships. • Generators Development of HTS generators has also leapt ahead with the initial production of 10-MVAR synchronous condensers for utility voltage adjusting service. These condensers are very similar in design and operation to 10-MW, 1,800-rpm generators.

Lord Bach of Lutterworth, Minister for Defense Procurement for the U.K., visited ALSTOM Power Conversion last week to review the company’s progress on two major defense related projects. He went to Rugby to see the propulsion equipment and test facility for the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 Destroyers, HMS Daring, and then visited the Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator (ESTD) at ALSTOM in Whetstone, Leicestershire. In April 2001, ALSTOM was awarded the contract to design and manufacture the electrical and power management systems…

Lord Bach of Lutterworth, Minister for Defense Procurement for the U.K., visited ALSTOM Power Conversion last week to review the company’s progress on two major defense related projects. He went to Rugby to see the propulsion equipment and test facility for the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 Destroyers, HMS Daring, and then visited the Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator (ESTD) at ALSTOM in Whetstone, Leicestershire. In April 2001, ALSTOM was awarded the contract to design and manufacture the electrical and power management systems, and to perform combined testing of the propulsion converters and advanced induction motors for the T45 Destroyer electric propulsion system.

Larry Rigdon, President and CEO of Rigdon Marine, said that the second vessel in its 10 vessel contract has been delivered by Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc. of Mobile, Alabama. The M/V Bourbon was issued a United States Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation (COD) for coastwise trade in the United States and is fully classed by the American Bureau of Shipping for international operations. The M/V Bourbon was immediately deployed to a major oil company for work in the Gulf of Mexico after its christening by Mrs. Maxine Rigdon, mother of Larry Rigdon.

Larry Rigdon, President and CEO of Rigdon Marine, said that the second vessel in its 10 vessel contract has been delivered by Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc. of Mobile, Alabama. The M/V Bourbon was issued a United States Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation (COD) for coastwise trade in the United States and is fully classed by the American Bureau of Shipping for international operations. The M/V Bourbon was immediately deployed to a major oil company for work in the Gulf of Mexico after its christening by Mrs. Maxine Rigdon, mother of Larry Rigdon. The M/V Bourbon like its sister vessel, the M/V Orleans, is a 210 x 54 x 19-ft.

ALSTOM Power Conversion has been selected by Princess Cruises and Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. to supply electric propulsion systems for two Grand Class cruise ships. in big cruise ships, made ALSTOM an ideal choice. Each ship will be equipped with two of ALSTOM’s electric motors each with a rated power of 20,000 kW / 145 rpm. ALSTOM is also to supply the main and auxiliary generators, the 11 kV main switchboard, the induction motors for thrusters and compressors and all the Synchrodrive and control units dedicated to the electric propulsion. The ships will be delivered to the shipowner from 2003.

Alstom Diesel engines and its three well-regarded brands — Mirrlees Blackstone, Paxman and Ruston — were recently bought by MAN B&W. Several recent deals have confirmed the continuing trend towards a consolidation of resources in the realm of marine propulsion equipment. The trend, to regular followers of the industry, is hardly a new development. However, a spate of recent new deals and consummations has brought the topic to the forefront again. As reported in the June 2000 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, the emergence of Rolls Royce as a major force in the field of marine propusion is solidified with a collection of brand name equipment suppliers. The U.K.

A new niche for Alstom to equip the first 8,500 cu. m. hopper dredge with electric propulsion. Alstom Power Conversion has been awarded a contract by E.N. Bazan-Juliana Constructora Gijonesa SA to equip the new 8,500 cu. m. hopper dredge for Dragages-Ports. Alstom will supply diesel electric power and propulsion systems including main generators, a 6.6 kV switchboard, distribution transformers and two synchronous motors each of 2,500 kW @ 1,500 rpm supplied through synchroconverters. This 8,500 cu. m. hopper dredge will be the first worldwide to be equipped with electric propulsion. This new dredge will operate in France from Summer 2002.

A new niche for Alstom to equip the first 8,500 cu. m. hopper dredge with electric propulsion. Alstom Power Conversion has been awarded a contract by E.N. Bazan-Juliana Constructora Gijonesa SA to equip the new 8,500 cu. m. hopper dredge for Dragages-Ports. Alstom will supply diesel electric power and propulsion systems including main generators, a 6.6 kV switchboard, distribution transformers and two synchronous motors each of 2,500 kW @ 1,500 rpm supplied through synchroconverters. This 8,500 cu. m. hopper dredge will be the first worldwide to be equipped with electric propulsion. This new dredge will operate in France from Summer 2002.

American Superconductor announced the selection of Alstom Power Conversion Inc. of Philadelphia as its subcontractor in a program to design an ultracompact high-temperature superconducting (HTS) ship propulsion. The project involves a U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR) contract for the design and development of high temperature superconducting (HTS) motors for electric ship propulsion. Alstom will be responsible for the design of the stator and drive systems as well as for propulsion system integration motor for the U.S. Navy.

NASSCO has chosen Alstom Power Conversion to supply the electric power propulsion and automation package for three ship sets plus options on an additional three vessels for British Petroleum's purpose-built U.S. Alaskan crude carriers. The approximate value of the contract is $32 million. For each ship set, Alstom will provide the diesel electric propulsion system with rated power of one 10MW electric motor controller per shaftline at 85 rpm. Alstom will also supply the switchgear, transformers and automation system. The first ship set is expected to arrive at the shipyard sometime during mid 2002.

NASSCO has chosen Alstom Power Conversion to supply the electric power propulsion and automation package for three ship sets plus options on an additional three vessels for British Petroleum's purpose-built U.S. Alaskan crude carriers. The approximate value of the contract is $32 million. For each ship set, Alstom will provide the diesel electric propulsion system with rated power of one 10MW electric motor controller per shaftline at 85 rpm. Alstom will also supply the switchgear, transformers and automation system. The first ship set is expected to arrive at the shipyard sometime during mid 2002.

Larry T. Rigdon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rigdon Marine, announced that the third of its 10 platform supply vessels — MV Royal — was christened and delivered for service. Royal was immediately deployed to begin work in the Gulf of Mexico. Mrs. Mathilde Currence, the wife of Richard Currence Jr., Vice President, Operations christened the Royal at Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Company., Inc. of Mobile, Alabama. Royal joins the company's two other vessels, the Bourbon and the Orleans, which are also working in the Gulf of Mexico. "We are extremely pleased that drilling and seismic companies with operations in the Gulf of Mexico have vetted our vessels as being the most cost effective and operationally efficient ships available today," said Rigdon.

A recent visit to New Orleans afforded MR a chat with Larry Rigdon, a man who has stirred controversy and heated debate among offshore vessel providers, while steadfastly building what is far from the largest but arguably the finest fleet of boats serving the offshore market. Politics, Money & Competition: By all accounts, Larry Rigdon has had an interesting run through his mid-50s. While thoughts of the majority of men his age are turning to 401K values and retirement, Rigdon decided to design and build a fleet of ten 210- x 54- x 19-ft. diesel-electric platform supply vessels, vessels designed to offer the offshore market an unprecedented level of performance via an adherence to top technical specification.

The development of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) motors for the United States Navy's future all-electric ships has completed a significant milestone: the Navy's initial tests of its 5-MW, 230 rpm concept demonstrator have been satisfactorily completed. The motor, developed by American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) under a contract with the Office of Naval Research(ONR), validates the potential of HTS technology to reduce the size and weight of marine propulsion motors as well as improve their efficiency in both military and commercial marine propulsion applications. AMSC manufactured the HTS rotor system integrated with a cryogenic refrigeration system.

Alstom signed a contract worth $1.17B to build two cruise ships for Italian line MSC in a deal which might avert restructuring of its shipbuilding business following the near bankruptcy of the group last year. The order for the ships, which will each measure 1,106 ft. in length and offer 1,650 cabins, was signed by the chief executive of MSC, Pierre Francesco Vago and his counterpart from Alstom Marine, Patrick Boissier, during a press conference on Monday. The giant liners will be slightly smaller than the 345-metre Queen Mary 2, the biggest cruise ship in the world. They will be built in the shipyard in the French port of Saint Nazaire where the Queen Mary 2 was launched last year.

Alstom Power Conversion Incorporated (APCI) reports that the DD(X) Integrated Power System (IPS) Test Team has achieved full torque of over one million foot pounds on the Advanced Induction Motor (AIM) at the NGSS, NSWC Land Based Test Site in Philadelphia. This AIM is rated at 18.25 MW at 127 RPM. Under contract with Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Alstom’s propulsion solution includes the power dense motor controller called a VDM25000 and the Advanced Induction Motor. Both of these components have achieved full power during the testing. This propulsion system is the most power dense package demonstrated at full scale to designed torque and is now ready as the main propulsion solution for DD(X).

(HTS) ship propulsion motor. under a contract from the U.S. shipped the rotor assembly to ALSTOM's Power Conversion Business in the U.K. 2003, at which time the finished motor will begin testing by the Navy. megawatts (MW), or 6,500 shaft horsepower. refrigeration components used to cool the HTS coils. compactness of the motor. and weight of a conventional motor built with copper coils. HTS wires employed. "The ship propulsion motor we are developing for the U.S. Superconductor's Electric Motors and Generators business unit. higher electrical efficiency, which translates into significant fuel savings. tankers carrying a wide range of materials. designs. noted naval architect and marine consultancy. Mr. MW/120rpm motor. electricity to run the motors," said Paratore.

Compelling design and operational arguments in favor of podded electric drives can be expected to transcend any negative impressions formed from the recent clutch of problems and complications experienced with such systems in certain cruise ship and ferry applications. Experience has shown that technical innovation in the maritime field has invariably been accompanied by early setbacks in some shape or form. In an industry where conservatism is the order of the day, and understandably so where assets are subjected to the rigors of the elements as well as the vicissitudes of the markets, those operators willing to be the standard bearers with new technology provide a beacon for the wider maritime community.

Celebrity Cruises filed a $300 million lawsuit today against Rolls Royce and Alstom Power Conversion, co-producers of a ship pod- propulsion system, to recover lost revenue and costs associated with failing pods. The lawsuit was filed in state court in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The lawsuit charges that the Rolls Royce and Alstom Power Conversion pods, brand-named Mermaid, have failed repeatedly, resulting in cancelled cruises and thousands of disappointed guests. These recurring failures cost the company hundreds of million of dollars, for which the lawsuit seeks restitution. Mermaid pods are installed on four Celebrity ships -- Millennium, Summit, Infinity and Constellation.