GE Gets $60 Million Contract From NASSCO
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.
A Kvaerner/GE LM2500 gas turbine module nearing completion. The LM2500 is part of the father-andson propulsion system for Stena AB's HSS craft building in Finland. Additionally, GE recently announced a $60 million contract with NASSCO, to provide LM2500s for U.S. Navy Sealift ships.
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.
