Gas Turbine Propulsion for LNG Ships

Lloyd's Register has issued an Approval in Principle for GE Energy's LM2500-based, gas turbine propulsion system for liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships. Gas turbine propulsion systems have been widely used on naval and cruise ships, but are new to LNG vessels. The Approval in Principle, issued through Lloyd's Register North America, gives GE Energy a high level of confidence that the marine industry will see its gas turbine propulsion system design as a viable alternative to traditional propulsion methods for the next generation of large LNG tankers.

Traditionally, LNG tankers have been powered by steam turbine engines, but as larger vessels are built to accommodate the growing demand for natural gas, standard propulsion systems are beginning to demonstrate certain shortcomings, such as low efficiency, high emissions, lack of availability of steam-qualified crew and the high costs associated with scaling steam turbine systems for larger tankers. GE Energy believes its LM2500-based, gas turbine propulsion system addresses these issues and offers many other benefits, including the ability to burn the boil-off gas from LNG containment systems in a natural, reliable and redundant manner. GE Energy also believes its gas turbines provide improved maintainability over other systems.