Bureau Veritas has awarded basic concept approval (approval in principal) to the Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine power station for LNG carrier propulsion in conjunction with electric drive. The MT30, producing 36MW, is an aero-derived gas turbine which has eighty per cent commonality with the well-known Rolls-Royce Trent 800 aero engine which has been in service for ten years powering the Boeing 777 aircraft.
Compact and reliable, gas turbine power is the next step forward for the propulsion of LNG carriers. These engines will burn methane gas, which is said to be environmentally friendly
The approval in principal was issued by Bureau Veritas after a review of the technical documentation submitted by Rolls-Royce. It is the first stage of the overall assessment of the gas turbine power station, which will ultimately be formalised by full concept approval.