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GE Gas Turbines Provide Reliable Propulsion and Onboard Power for 17 Cruise Ships LM2500+G4 Engine Now Available for Cruise Applications

March 12, 2007

MIAMI, Florida -- Twenty-six GE aeroderivative marine gas turbines have logged 500,000 hours providing propulsion and onboard service on 17 cruise ships. GE also now offers another gas turbine for cruise ship service with similar operating characteristics and benefits, GE Marine reported today at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference. 

"By way of an expansion of our successful LM product line, cruise ship owners and operators can now select our LM2500+G4 gas turbine for similar configurations and uses as our LM2500+ and LM2500 gas turbines," said Brien Bolsinger, GE Marine general manager. "The LM2500+G4 is the latest version in our LM2500 gas turbine family, providing a 17% increase in power over the LM2500+ forebears at ISO conditions," Bolsinger added. 

Configurations 

The GE gas turbines in cruise ship service are configured in two different types of arrangements: 16 LM2500+ gas turbines are the basis for a COmbined Gas turbine and steam turbine integrated Electric drive System (COGES) used aboard four Celebrity Cruises and four Royal Caribbean International cruise ships; and six LM2500+ and four LM2500 gas turbines are used in COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine arrangements aboard four Princess Cruises, one Cunard Line and four Holland American Line cruise ships. 

The gas turbines for all the cruise ship applications mentioned were manufactured at GE Marine's Evendale, Ohio facility and packaged at GE Energy's Houston, Texas plant. 

High Reliability 

Preventative maintenance programs contribute to high reliability of gas turbines aboard cruise ships, and is scheduled to complement cruise ship itineraries. In fact, because of these preventative measures, engines have accumulated over 30,000 hours without maintenance. 

Average time between maintenance activities, including hot section refurbishment, has significantly exceeded initial estimates. As a result, ship operators realize reduced maintenance costs and increased flexibility in maintenance planning. 

Normal inspections and monitoring have helped operators plan maintenance events. For instance, gas generator exchanges have been scheduled during port stays, with the plant ready to return to service in less than nine hours. 

Operating Flexibility 

Through its ecomagination, GE is committed to imagine and build innovative solutions that benefit its customers and society. This is done by combining the strengths of GE's environmentally advanced technologies and the collective imagination of its employees worldwide to create solutions that are also economically advantageous. 

GE has applied the ecomagination philosophy to its marine gas turbine business. Recently, with GE assistance, ship operators have incorporated operation with soy- and palm-based biodiesel fuels in their LM2500+ gas turbines, with outstanding service success (Marine Gas Oil normally fuels the 26 GE gas turbines currently operating on cruise ships). GE believes there is potential for the use of biodiesel in a variety of commercial marine applications as well as with the military – both in the United States and abroad – and with industrial customers. 

Pleasure Craft/Yacht Experience 

GE gas turbines can also be applied on high-speed pleasure craft and yachts in configurations similar to those used on cruise ships. For instance, GE gas turbines power the high-speed yachts Katana and Destriero (LM1600), and the Estasea (LM2500). In fact, the Destriero -- powered by three LM1600 gas turbines – won Italy's prestigious Blue Riband in 1992 for the fastest transatlantic crossing. 

GE Marine is one of the world's leading manufacturers of marine products and services, including gas turbines ranging from 6,000 to 57,300 shaft horsepower, and marine main reduction gearing.