GE Marine Engines has received partial funding from Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss. to begin the engineering work on equipment to be used on the U.S. Navy's eighth LHD Wasp-class large-deck, multipurpose amphibious assault ship. This LHD project represents several milestones. The ship will be powered by two GE LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbines, with GE main reduction gearing (two gearboxes). This marks the first military application of GE's LM2500+ gas turbine. Currently there are 20 LM2500+ in or slated for operation worldwide on various commercial fast ferries and cruise ships, with an additional 74 units in diverse power generation applications. The LM2500+s each will have the U.S. Navy rating of 35,000 shaft horsepower for the LHD application. GE expects to finalize the U.S.
