Turbine Systems News

A U.S. Navy sailor feared to have fallen overboard has been found alive aboard USS Shiloh (CG 67) a week after he went missing. Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Peter Mims was reported missing June 8 and was presumed to have fallen overboard in the Philippine Sea, triggering a search involving U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Coast Guard assets that lasted more than 50 hours and covered some 5,500 square miles. The ocean search was suspended on June 11, but the ship’s crew continued to search on board the vessel.

At Sea Japan 2016, GE will showcase its latest marine technologies, helping Japanese shipyards and mariners achieve more efficient maritime operations while meeting stringent environmental regulations. GE’s Marine Solutions business has been a reliable partner of the country’s marine industry. In the military space, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has chosen GE’s LM2500 and LM500 gas turbines for its naval ships. To date, GE’s marine systems’ supplier IHI has packaged, tested and delivered over 70 LM2500 and more than 30 LM500 marine gas turbines.

The U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) departed from Singapore February 2 after completing her first six-day scheduled preventive maintenance period during a maiden 16-month rotational deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the Navy reported. Beginning January 19, days after Fort Worth returned from supporting AirAsia search efforts in the Java Sea, the maintenance period included more than 400 checks of engineering, deck and combat systems, the Navy said. Compared to other Navy ship platforms, the littoral combat ship has a relatively small crew. Labor and technical support during Fort Worth's deployment is supplemented with civilian contractors who conduct most of the preventative maintenance schedule (PMS) work.

Following the previous announcement regarding two group presidents’ retirements and new responsibilities for another group president, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced related changes at the vice president level, including the retirement of Vice President Steve Gosselin. After more than 35 years of outstanding service with the company, Steve Gosselin, 56, vice president with responsibility for the Customer Services Support Division, has elected to retire. Gosselin’s retirement will be effective February 1, 2015. “Much of Steve’s career has been spent in marketing and product support roles, and in his most recent position, he has provided critical leadership in strengthening and aggressively growing Caterpillar’s aftermarket parts and product support business…

Following the previous announcement regarding two group presidents’ retirements and new responsibilities for another group president, Caterpillar Inc. today announced related changes at the vice president level, including the retirement of Vice President Steve Gosselin. After more than 35 years of outstanding service with the company, Steve Gosselin, 56, vice president with responsibility for the Customer Services Support Division, has elected to retire. Gosselin’s retirement will be effective February 1, 2015. “Much of Steve’s career has been spent in marketing and product support roles, and in his most recent position, he has provided critical leadership in strengthening and aggressively growing Caterpillar’s aftermarket parts and product support business…

Today at the SMM 2014 exhibition, GE announced it will showcase a variety of cutting-edge projects and solutions to meet demands of the global commercial and naval marine industry. According to Afra Gerstenfeld, General Manager of Transportation’s Marine group, “The products and services GE provides can help customers operate ships more efficiently, reduce emissions and meet stringent global environmental regulations. •    Dongwon Industries-- one of the world's largest tuna fishery companies -- will use two 16V250 GE Marine diesel engines to power two 80-meter-long tuna purse seiners. The first ship is scheduled for commissioning in late 2015. This is the second GE diesels order from Dongwon. Local support is provided by GE’s regional distributor, YusinHR.

GE Marine and Lloyd’s Register report 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.

ABB has led a $12 million investment in Scotrenewables Tidal Power, (of Scotland), a provider of tidal turbine systems. The funding is being used specifically to roll out a larger and more advanced tidal energy conversion system known as the SR2000. The floating 2 megawatt turbine includes a number of innovations to deliver simplicity, low mass, rapid connection/disconnection and heightened survivability. Scheduled for completion next year, it will be the first of a number of commercial units installed in the Lashy Sound tidal demonstrator project in Orkney, where Scotrenewables is based. ABB’s participation was made through its venture capital unit…

Gamesa's 5 MW offshore turbine obtains design certification, a milestone in its offshore wind farm sector progress. Gamesa secures IEC 61400-22 design certification for its G128-5.0 MW offshore wind turbine from independent organisation Det Norske Veritas (DNV). This achievement represents a major milestone in the certification process for Gamesa's offshore turbine, ensuring the timely launch, sales and manufacturing potential of the company's offshore turbine systems in coming years. Gamesa has commenced installation of its first G128-5.0 MW turbine prototype on the Arinaga Quay on the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)…

USS Makin Island (LHD 8) is the last in a series of 8 amphibious assault ships of the WASP-class built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding at its Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. Though last, it is the first in the series fitted with hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion, and recently returned to its San Diego homeport after its first deployment. “During the seven-month deployment, the ship’s hybrid-electric propulsion system saved more than four million gallons of fuel resulting in an estimated cost savings in excess of $15 million,” the Navy claims.

Gamesa raises €260-million in funding from European Investment Bank for its on & offshore wind turbine R&D+I investment programme. The EIB project will support Gamesa's R&D+I programme, which is devoted to the design and development of turbine platforms, both onshore and offshore. These emerging platforms are intended to offer greater capacity and constantly improving Cost of Energy (CoE). The funds will help finance Gamesa's R&D activities in the next three years (2013-2015). The loan is scheduled to be paid off in a single payment in six years' time (2018). This initiative will support the development of state-of-the-art renewable energy technologies and help bolster Gamesa products' innovative capabilities while enhancing their competitive edge.

The world’s demand for safe and clean energy continues to grow, with renewable sources playing an every greater role. Wind power generation, having expanding offshore, is now not only looking out but up. International renewable energy consultancy, GL Garrad Hassan, has issued the first market report which analyses the burgeoning new industry of High Altitude Wind Energy (HAWE). HAWE systems are designed to tap into the high velocity, stable air currents that exist at altitudes anywhere from 200m to 20 km above the earth; a source for generating cheaper and more abundant electricity than current wind technology. The report looks at the potential of high altitude winds as an energy source, the current technologies within the sector and their potential as mature systems.

Gamesa Technology Corp., a global wind energy company, and the shipbuilding operations of Northrop Grumman Corp., America's largest shipbuilder, launched the Offshore Wind Technology Center to jointly develop the next generation of offshore wind systems that will be deployed in the United States and around the world. Plans call for the development of North America's first offshore wind turbines by late next year. "Virginia is pleased to be the nexus where two industry leaders will join forces in the name of offshore wind innovation," said Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. "The Commonwealth offers all the attributes needed to provide an optimal location for offshore wind energy production, and to become the East Coast epicenter for the offshore wind supply chain.

User interface is the most visible system component when it comes to equipment operation. From the steering wheel and instrument cluster on your vehicle’s dashboard to the most complex industrial control system, the purpose is the same; it must allow human interface into a system. The interface must provide the user a means to control the equipment, provide feedback from the equipment to show operational conditions and alert us when something is wrong. And it should do these things efficiently, be easy to use, and visually and ergonomically pleasing.

H. Cegielski – Poznan S.A. has ordered two MAN Diesel TCS-PTG18 Power Turbine systems from MAN Diesel’s Turbocharger Business Unit. The TCS-PTGs will boost the efficiency of two environmentally friendly, diesel power plants to be constructed by Land & Marine for renewable energy company Blue-NG in London. A H. Cegielski-built MAN B&W 7K60MC-S engine producing 13.9 MW lies at the heart of each plant. Blue-NG is committed to being best in class at building the most efficient power plants in the world…

Seven crew members from pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) witnessed a construction milestone Feb. 26, when LHD 8 became the first Navy vessel with a 35,000 horsepower LM2500+ gas turbine engine to successfully complete forward main engine light off (MELO). LHD 8 is part of the Navy's Smart Ship design, which is an effort to reduce manpower through the increased use of technology. Makin is also the first amphibious assault ship equipped with a hybrid electric-drive propulsion system, a 4,160 volt electrical distribution system and an advanced machinery control system (MCS). Main Propulsion Leading Petty Officer, Gas Turbine Systems Technician…

Lloyd’s Register has issued an Approval in Principle of GE Energy’s LM2500-based, gas turbine propulsion system for liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships. Gas turbine propulsion systems have been widely used on naval and cruise ships, but are new to LNG vessels. The Approval in Principle, issued through Lloyd’s Register North America, Inc, gives GE Energy a high level of confidence that the marine industry will embrace its gas turbine propulsion system design as a viable alternative to traditional propulsion methods for the next generation of large LNG tankers. Traditionally, LNG tankers have been powered by steam turbine engines, but as larger vessels are built to accommodate the growing demand for natural gas…

Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) conducts a fueling at sea with Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 are on deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). U.S. By Ensign Colleen McDonald, USS Dwight D. The guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) responded to a distress call May 20 from Amerauto, a 34-foot sailing vessel. The vessel was slowly sinking and the four crew members were transferred to Anzio. Amerauto was 425 miles from Bermuda when they put out their distress call and 1,700 miles from their next destination of the Azores. The vessel and its Ukrainian crew of four had been underway for five days after departing Bermuda on May 15, heading for the Azores.

From USS Rodney M. USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) held a ceremony April 7 to commemorate the birthday of her namesake, Marine Sgt. Rodney Maxwell Davis. The ship, commissioned in 1987, was named in honor of Davis who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Vietnam War. The ship's chief petty officers presented Davis' uniform and awards to the command during the ceremony. The memorabilia will be displayed on the mess decks. The chiefs chose Davis’ birthday to honor both his life and his achievements. Chief Cryptologic Technician Technical David Gwinner, Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician Electrical Kurt Williams, and Chief Sonar Technician Robert Foss presented the display. Harold McConnell, commandant of the Marine Corps League, Sgt. Rodney M.

USS Shoup (DDG 86) ship’s restricted availability (SRA) period began Jan. 10 at Naval Station Everett. Over the next three months, the ships crew, contractors and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF) Detachment Everett Sailors will work on maintaining, updating and replacing many of the ship’s systems. “We've been preparing ourselves for the last month and a half,” said Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 1st Class (SW) Ruan Patino. “Every work center and division has taken the appropriate steps to make it an easy transition for everyone. While Shoup is pierside at its homeport, Naval Station Everett, it will undergo renovations to include new gray water piping…

Singapore Strait A combined boarding at sea united the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams of USS Crommelin (FFG 37) and the Republic of Singapore navy (RSN) patrol craft RSS Sea Lion (P 77) during the Singapore phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) June 6. A combined 10-ship USN/RSN CARAT task group, in addition to air assets, is operating together in the South China Sea during the first leg of the annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asia nations. “Training together helps us enhance maritime security in the Singapore Strait,” said Sea Lion’s boarding officer Capt. Lee, who only uses his family name.

The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) is moored at pier 88 in New York City during Fleet Week New York 2006. The annual event also provides an opportunity for citizens of New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area to meet Sailors and Marines as well as witness first hand the latest capabilities of today's Navy and Marine Corps team. Fleet Week includes dozens of military demonstrations and displays, including public tours of many of the participating ships. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class David P. The 19th New York City Fleet Week came to a close May 31, as Sailors and Marines left New York City in their wake, headed for their next destination.

The North American high speed ferry market has been slow to develop compared with other areas such as Australia, Europe and the Far East. However, recent developments show the U.S. market is gathering momentum - not only in respect of the number of orders, but also with regard to the speed and sophistication of the ferry designs. This trend was emphasized when, in September 1997, one of the world's largest high speed ferry operators, Buquebus, placed a contract with Derecktor Shipyards in Mamaroneck, N.Y. for a high specification, 300 passenger ferry with a maximum speed of more than 50 knots. The specification for the ferry required a maximum contract speed of over 50 knots and a high level of seakeeping and passenger comfort.