GE Aviation

--EVENDALE, OH - GE Marine & Industrial Engines (M&I) announced that FiatAvio, Torino, Italy, has ordered four LM2500 gas turbines for the third and fourth MDV 3000 fast ferries. The ferries are being built by Fincantieri, Genoa, Italy for Tirrenia Lines. FiatAvio, an M&I Marine System Supplier, will place the LM2500s into propulsion packages.

"This project marks the second order placed by FiatAvio for GE's LM2500 gas turbines specifically for use on this new class of fast ferry. The first order of four LM2500s was placed in 1996. This follow-on contract demonstrates Tirrenia's continued confidence in our LM2500 technology," said John Ferrera, M&I regional director of marine marketing. "In fact, two of Tirrenia's Rodriquez Aquastrada-class fast ferries have been operating reliably for almost five years each powered by a single LM2500 and two diesels in a CODAG or combined diesel and gas turbine configuration."

Similar to the first two MDV 3000s, the third and fourth fast ferries will feature a CODAG configuration each with four MTU diesel engines and two LM2500 gas turbines. The first 1,800-passenger, 460-vehicle MDV 3000 fast ferry is scheduled to begin commercial service in the Spring of 1998, and the second will commence operation in the Summer of 1998. The third and the fourth ferries will begin operating in the Spring and the Summer of 1999, respectively. Each vessel is expected to reach speeds in excess of 40 knots, and the ferries will provide service on the Italian route to Sardinia Island, Italy.

Including these third and fourth MDV 3000 fast ferries, there are now 16 LM2500 gas turbines committed for fast ferry operation.

The LM2500s for the MDV 3000 fast ferries will each be rated at 22 megawatts and will be used in conjunction with four 6.7-megawatt MTU diesel engines for a total power output of more than 70 megawatts per vessel. Each MDV 3000 ferry will use four KaMeWa waterjets. With the CODAG configuration, the diesels and gas turbines can be operated at the same time.

The LM2500 gas turbines for the third and fourth MDV 3000 fast ferries will be manufactured at M&I's Evendale, OH facility. FiatAvio will deliver the LM2500 propulsion packages to Fincantieri for the second, third and fourth fast ferries in November 1997, July 1998 and September 1998, respectively.

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.