The world’s largest transatlantic liner, the Queen Mary 2, is powered by two GE LM2500+ aeroderivative gas turbine-generator sets and four diesel generator-sets. This project marks a milestone for GE, as the LM2500+ gensets are being used for the first time in a ‘dual gas turbine’ installation on a cruise ship in a combined diesel and gas turbine arrangement called COmbined Diesel And Gas (CODAG) propulsion system.
Each gas turbine-generator set contributes 25 megawatts to the ship’s overall 118 megawatts of installed power. Power produced in this electric drive configuration is used for propulsion as well as onboard power.

GE specially designed the two LM2500+ packages to be some 35 tons lighter than previous similar gas turbine installations. What makes this application unique is that the compactness and low noise and vibration characteristics of the packages. These design features allowed the shipbuilder flexibility, especially with respect to the placement of the gas turbine gensets. The volume and weight of ducting for the combustion intake, exhaust and package ventilation are significantly reduced, thereby increasing the ships’ available space for cabins and public areas.

The redesigned package also features the next-generation Woodward Micro Net Digital Control turbine control system. The controls manage all the systems of the package, including engine fuel management, sequencing, condition monitoring and interfacing to other systems aboard the ship.