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GE Merges Businesses: Same Organization Now Offers Aeroderivative Gas Turbines, Diesel Engines and Main Reduction Gearing for Marine Uses

January 13, 2004

CRYSTAL CITY, Va. - GE announced it has merged its aircraft and transportation businesses, including the marine organizations within each business. The consolidated GE Marine business structure now offers both GE aeroderivative gas turbines, diesel engines and main reduction gearing, GE reported today at the Surface Navy Association Symposium. 

"Through the merged organizations, customers will be provided with the highest quality sourcing, manufacturing and technology," said Karl Matson, general manager of the newly formed GE Marine. "Customers will also benefit from GE's extensive marine industry experience, powering some of the world's most advanced ocean-going and inland vessels," Matson added. 

The consolidated marine businesses will now offer GE's aeroderivative gas turbine technology, GE medium speed diesel engines and GE main reduction gearing. Each segment of GE Marine will be supported by GE's extensive global service network, and advanced technology via the GE Global Research Center. 

Product Offerings 
Customers can now have one-stop shopping for power requirements ranging from 1,600 shaft horsepower (shp) to 57,330 shp for use in a variety of military and commercial marine applications. 

What follows is a brief overview of the products now offered through GE Marine: 

- GE's aeroderivative gas turbines are suitable for diverse high-speed applications, including destroyers, frigates, corvettes, amphibious assault vessels, patrol boats, aircraft carriers, fast ferries and cruise ships. Currently there are more than 1,200 GE gas turbines operating in a variety of commercial and military marine applications throughout the world. GE's gas turbine product line includes the LM500 (6,000 shp), LM2500 (33,600 shp), LM2500+ (40,500 shp) and LM6000 (57,330 shp). 

GE's entire LM line of simple cycle gas turbines can be engineered for various size combinations to meet diverse operating requirements. By applying different GE engine combinations -- such as diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) or diesel or gas turbine (CODOG) arrangements -- a simple system can be configured to use fewer auxiliaries. 

To date, GE gas turbines are part of CODAG or CODOG propulsion systems on more than 200 commercial and military marine vessels. These systems can be more cost effective by being able to match the exact power requirements of vessels rather than having excess power due to only one engine size available for specific applications. 

Other benefits of GE LM gas turbines for these configurations include: lower manpower and maintenance requirements as well as significant experience with unmanned engine rooms; lower operating, support and maintenance costs; and fully established commercial logistics support including GE's remote diagnostics capabilities. 

All of these benefits and experience continue to make GE LM engines ideal for programs such as the United States Navy's Littoral Combat Ship program. 

- GE's medium-speed diesel engines are ideal for inland waterway vessels such as tug boats, towboats, and ferries. GE's commitment to the marine industry extends further with the offering of diesel generator-sets that can produce power for ship service aboard both commercial and military marine vessels. 

There are currently more than 15,000 diesel engines operating worldwide - working in the most challenging environments. The product line includes the 7FDM model in 8, 12 and 16 cylinder engines, available for power ranges of 1,600 shp/1,193 kilowatts (kW) to 4,500 shp/3,355 kW. The high compression, Electronic Fuel Injected engines recently received ABS certification, and meet current MARPOL and EPA Marine Tier I and II emissions requirements. These diesels are ideal for both marine propulsion and for stationary power for standby marine applications. 

GE also offers EMD* products, which include components for both the 645 and 710 engines, with enhanced features for increased product life, reliability and performance. 

- For more than a century, GE has been involved in the design, manufacture and support of marine propulsion gearing for any size vessel, whether it is for military or commercial marine uses. GE gears offer high reliability, high performance, low noise and low life cycle costs. 

Where To Find Products 
Headquarters for GE's LM gas turbine products, diesel engines and gears will remain the same: Evendale, Ohio; Erie, Pa.; and Lynn, Mass., respectively. 

GE Marine is a division of GE Transportation of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). GE Marine -- one of the world's leading manufacturers of marine products -- manufactures gas turbines (6,000 to 57,300 shaft horsepower), medium speed diesels (1,600 to 4,000 shaft horsepower), and main reduction gearing for marine and diesel-electric industrial applications. 

* EMD is a trade designator of the Electromotive Division of the General Motors Corporation. GE is not an authorized EMD distributor, nor is otherwise associated or affiliated with EMD. However, GE does represent that its replacement parts, components, subsystems and services are compatible with and usable on EMD Marine & Stationary.