HAMBURG, GERMANY – GE’s Marine Solutions and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd. (DSIC) announced today at the SMM 2016 exhibition they have received Approval in Principle (AiP) for their jointly developed gas turbine-powered 20K TEU container ship design. The AiP, issued by Lloyd’s Register, demonstrates the completion of the preliminary design of a container ship that will use a GE Combined Gas turbine Electric and Steam (COGES) system.
According to GE’s Brien Bolsinger, Vice President, Marine Operations, “The GE and DSIC team has broadened customer offerings with this new gas turbine-powered design that will rely on our COGES system to provide power for all the container ship’s needs including propulsion. The heart of the COGES system is our popular LM2500+ gas turbine which is derived from GE’s CF6 aircraft engine and maintains a high degree of commonality with its flight-proven forerunner. Given the aero engine heritage, it’s no surprise that the LM2500+ boasts a field reliability of 99.8%,” he noted.
“The compact COGES arrangement—fully 80% lighter and 30% smaller than comparable two-stroke diesels—will allow for increased container carrying capability,” said DSIC President Yu fengping. “Our unique LNG-fueled container ship design using COGES for power and propulsion will afford customers lower life cycle cost, better environmental performance and a high level of reliability. GE’s dual-fuel gas turbine can meet increasingly stringent worldwide environmental regulations while reducing operating expenses,” he added.
GE and DSIC have previously collaborated on a novel COGES-powered LNG carrier design which received Lloyd’s Register AiP in December 2015.
“Lloyd’s Register’s AiP of the DSIC/GE-designed COGES container ship marks yet another successful joint initiative to adapt innovative ideas and technologies. We are confident that both the COGES-based LNG carrier and container ship designs can deliver highly competitive through-life benefits and environmental performance for owners and operators,” added Nick Brown, Lloyd’s Register’s Marine and Offshore Director.
The LNG fuel gas containment and supply system design for the DSIC COGES container ship will feature a “LGM B”-type LNG fuel gas tank to be provided by Gloryholder Liquefied Gas Machinery (DL) Co. Ltd.
Benefits of Gas Turbines
All GE marine gas turbines are dual fuel capable and can operate on various fuels including LPG and natural gas. This fuel flexibility is beneficial to commercial ship operators adopting dual-fuel operating scenarios in order to meet new emissions regulations.
The gas turbines can be equipped with GE’s optional Dry Low NOx emissions combustion system to meet Tier III International Maritime Organization/Tier 4 United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements now, operating on gas or liquid fuel with no exhaust treatment and no methane slip. The COGES system is not sensitive to methane number changes, unlike some diesel engines where derating may be necessary to avoid shortening the maintenance interval.
Little maintenance is required with COGES; only about 300 man-hours per year, while the ship is underway. When more extensive maintenance is required, the entire turbine can be removed and replaced within 24 hours, reducing downtime and enabling maintenance to be carried out with minimal interruption to ship operations.
About GE
GE’s marine gas turbine business is part of GE Aviation and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. GE is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of marine propulsion products, systems and solutions including aeroderivative gas turbines ranging from 6,000 to 70,275 shaft horsepower/4.5 to 52 megawatts. These gas turbines reliably operate the world over in some of the most arduous conditions in temperatures ranging from -40 to 120oF/-40 to 48oC.
About Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd (DSIC) was established in 1898. She is the biggest shipbuilding yard with the most comprehensive range of various products in China. Main businesses include shipbuilding, offshore engineering and construction, ship repair conversion recycling and heavy industry.
About Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, LR now operates across many industry sectors, with nearly 9,000 employees in 78 countries. LR has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through our global technology centres and research network, LR is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof our clients’ businesses.
About Gloryholder Liquefied Gas Machinery (DL) Co. Ltd.
Gloryholder Liquefied Gas Machinery (DL) Co., Ltd., located in Dalian, China, is an engineering company specializing in liquid cargo containment/handling systems for gas carriers and LNG fuel gas supply systems for LNG powered vessels. Services include system design, equipment package supply, installation and commissioning.