EVENDALE, Ohio - Four GE LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines have been ordered by FiatAvio, Torino, Italy, for use on two new MDV 3000 fast ferries being built by Fincantieri, Genoa, Italy for Tirrenia Lines, Naples. Two LM2500s will be used with four MTU diesels in a combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) configuration for each vessel. When the first MDV 3000 monohull high speed fast ferry begins commercial operation in the Spring of 1998 it will be more than comparable in terms of size and speed to the Stena HSS 1500-class fast ferries.
"This order demonstrates that Tirrenia is very satisfied with the LM2500 performance and outstanding reliability on its Rodriquez Aquastrada-class fast ferries and is now committed to using GE aeroderivative gas turbines to take their fast ferries to the next size and speed plateau," said John Ferrera, M&I regional director of marine marketing. Each MDV 3000 will be capable of carrying 1,800 passengers and 460 vehicles, and is expected to reach speeds in excess of 40 knots.
Including the two MDV 3000 fast ferries, there are 12 LM2500 gas turbines committed for fast ferry operation: two units for two Aquastrada-class vessels and six LM2500s for three HSS 1500-class fast ferries. The Italian Navy has 42 LM2500s in military marine applications on 16 frigates, carriers and destroyers, all of them built by Fincantieri. In addition, there are 30 LM2500s in gas compression and three in power generation service in Italy.
The two MDV 3000 fast ferries will each feature two LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines packaged by FiatAvio, a GE Marine & Industrial Engines (M&I) marine system supplier. The LM2500s will each be rated at 22 megawatts and will be used in conjunction with four 6.7-megawatt MTU diesels for a total power output of over 70 megawatts per vessel. The CODAG configuration will mean that the diesels and gas turbines can be operated at the same time. Each MDV 3000 fast ferry will use four KaMeWa waterjets.
The LM2500s were manufactured at M&I's Evendale, OH, manufacturing facility and were delivered to FiatAvio in December 1996. FiatAvio expects to deliver the first propulsion package to Fincantieri in November 1997. The second MDV 3000 fast ferry is expected to begin commercial service a few months after the first vessel.
GE M&I is part of GE Aircraft Engines and is headquartered in Evendale. M&I is the world's largest designer, developer and manufacturer of aeroderivative gas turbines for a variety of power generation, gas compression and commercial and military marine propulsion applications.