GE Gets $60 Million Contract From NASSCO
Secures New Naval Vessel Application With LM2500 Gas Turbine GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) has secured a significant, new naval vessel application for its LM2500 gas turbine with a $60 million order from National Steel & Shipbuilding Co.
(NASSCO) to power six U.S. Navy Sealift vessels.
Each vessel, manufactured by NASSCO, will be powered by a pair of LM2500 gas turbines recently uprated to 32,000 bhp. The vessels measure 950 feet (289.5 m) long by 105 feet (32 m) wide, and will cruise at 24 knots. The ships are used for the deployment of heavy armored divisions.
GE will deliver the engines beginning in late 1994. GE Industrial & Power Systems will provide the gears, as well as the drive and control system for the propulsion package. "The LM2500 will now power a class of ships previously propelled by diesel engines or steam turbines," said Patrick Byrnes, director, U.S. Navy and North American Marine sales for GEAE's Marine and Industrial Engines Div.
According to the manufacturer, a key step in winning the propulsion contract was uprating the LM2500 for naval applications, which was achieved by incorporating new advanced materials and an improved cooling design. In mid-1993, the U.S. Navy approved LM2500 ratings of 29,500 bhp for surface combatant ships and 32,000 bhp for Navy Sealift applications. Previously, the LM2500 was rated at 26,250 bhp. The new Naval ratings resulted from extensive testing by TBG Cogen Partners at Grumman Aviation in Hicksville, N.Y. and at Stewart & Stevenson Services in Houston.
Mr. Byrnes said the Sealift propulsion contract better positions the LM2500 to compete for propulsion work on similar non-military vessels designed to move large commercial cargo.
LM2500s: Putting The "Fast" In Fast Ferry The LM2500 has also received acclaim for its inclusion in the building of the Stena HSS ferry order at Finnyards Ltd. of Rauma, Finland. Norway's Kvaerner Energy a.s. will provide the Kvaerner-General Electric gas turbine propulsion package.
Of the four gas turbine modules, two will be GE-LM1600 gas turbines and two will be GE-LM2500 units. The LM1600 gas turbines will be used for speeds up to 22 knots, with the LM2500s taking over for speeds up to 32 knots. For maximum speed, 42 knots, both pairs of LM1600s and LM2500s will be used. Total power output will be around 60,000 kW. Stena's HSS, which has received much fanfare around the world, will be capable of carrying 1,500 passengers and 375 cars, or 50 trucks and 100 cars.
Nearly 900 LM2500 engines power naval craft in the U.S. and 23 other nations. In addition, more than 400 LM2500 engines are used for industrial applications. For more information on GE's LM2500,
