GE Marine Engines (USA) announced it has extended its Marine System Supplier (MSS) agreement with MTU Friedrichshafen (Germany), covering MTU's packaging and distribution of GE LM marine aeroderivative gas turbines. GE LM gas turbines cover the power range from 4,500 kilowatts (kW) to 42,700 kW. To date, MTU has packaged several GE LM gas turbines for commercial fast ferries and military vessels.

"MTU uses GE's LM gas turbines for mechanical and electric combined propulsion system configurations," said Christian Beiner, Senior Manager of Sales & Engineering for MTU. "With our diesel engines, MTU is well-equipped to provide efficient propulsion systems for surface combatants and patrolvessels, as well as commercial vessels such as yachts, fast ferries, cruise ships, LNG carriers and a range of specialized vessels."

A recent commercial project on which GE and MTU collaborated is the Corsaire 14000-class fast ferry. This mono-hull uses two LM2500+ gas turbines supplied by MTU in a combined diesel and gas turbine configuration with two diesel engines. The 140-meter long fast ferry cruises at a speed of 42 knots on its route from Piraeus to the Island of Lesvos in Greece. On the military marine side, MTU provided GE LM2500 gas turbines and diesel engines to power four of the South African Navy's next generation MEKOA-200 corvettes. Each MEKO A-200 will use one LM2500 gas turbine directly connected through a gearbox to a 20-megawatt waterjet. Two interconnected shafts powered by diesel engines will propel two independent propellers. Commissioning of the first corvette is slated for 2004.