GE technology delivers an extremely low noise signature, with high shock performance and action damage tolerance. The Type 26 Frigate Global Combat Ship combines proven commercial technology with advanced military features to deliver state-of-the-art performance with the reliability of a mature solution.
 

Challenge
 

Customer need
The UK Royal Navy has commissioned a new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) City Class frigate-a multi-role vessel for global combat and peace-keeping operations with a flexible ‘mission space’.

A key challenge was to achieve the required, intense naval performance requirements, including an ultra-low noise signature and demanding shock levels, within the tight space, weight and efficiency constraints of this type of platform. As with all marine applications, de-risking the equipment was also a crucial consideration.

A second but important challenge – the Type 26 design selected is part of the Global Combat Ship family, proposed for and selected by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy for their next generation frigate programs and a total plan for 32 ships to date. Commonality and affordability, but the ability to customize and adapt a hybrid electric architecture with different partners would also be a significant consideration in the electric ship architecture. 
 

Solution
 

A hybrid electric propulsion system was selected,where the vessel operates on GE’s electric propulsion for high efficiency but uses a direct engine drive for top speed.
GE drew on its extensive experience from previous frigate, naval and commercial marine programs, and used advanced modelling and innovative design features, to deliver a highly robust electric ship system.

• Electric propulsion supplied by GE’s Compact Induction Motorsand SeaPulse LV drives.
• ‘Stealth’ type technology propulsion – ultra-low acoustic signature.
• GE patented noise-quieting technology built directly into the electric motors themselves.
• Equipment de-risking through one shaft load and scale, integrated power and propulsion system testing located at GE’s world-leading Marine Power Test Facility (MPTF) in the UK.
• Test and emulation plan identified over 300 real-life scenarios that the ship will encounter on op’s to ‘stress-test’ systems ahead of costly sea trials.

Benefits
 

• Unprecedented levels of quietness combined with excellent shock performance.
• The entire solution is also designed to withstand faults, can be easily isolated from sources of power in the event of action damage
• Local control capability – a crucial feature for a combat ship.
• Military capability with commercial ship mindset.
• Design for maintainability.
• Comprehensive test and trials to fully prove the entire system working together, not just its separate equipment elements – a unique advantage that has made GE the supplier of choice for marine customers around the world.

Challenge
 

The Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard had a requirement for a new family of arctic-capable patrol vessels. Vessels like this typically have a variety of mission and duty cycles and need a power system that can cover a range of operating scenarios, meet the demands of harsh Arctic conditions, and provide energy-efficiency to allow the ships to stay on mission and respect the environment.

During 2021, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has achieved two milestones in meeting its mission to defend Canada’s interests at home and abroad, in all three oceans that border Canada. In June 2021 the first of eight AOPS, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) HarryDeWolf, was commissioned into service with the RCN, and during July 2021, the second of Canada’s AOPS, the future HMCS MargaretBrooke, was delivered to the RCN by Irving Shipbuilding Inc., builder of Canada’s naval ships.

As a relatively small naval and coast guard patrol ship, space and program budget can both be a significant constraint. There can be a perception that electric drive ship systems are only suited to larger naval combat ships. With decades of experience providing electric power and propulsion on both commercial and naval ships, from small specialist vessels to the largest, GE Power Conversion was able to demonstrate the feasibility, affordability,and benefits.
 

Solution
 

Since 2012, GE has been the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the AOPS IFEP, including system design and manufacture of key equipment as well as support to installation, trials and commissioning at the build yard, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., in Halifax, Canada. Work continues apace as the next AOPS are already under construction.

• GE’s Integrated Full Electrical Power and Propulsion System (IFEP), including GE’s electric drive train for each of the two propulsion shafts
• Rugged induction propulsion motors with optimized design for ice operations, providing 9MW of propulsion power
• Proven MV7000 variable frequency drive converters for propulsion
• Bow thrusters, engine generators, medium voltage switchboards, distribution and propulsion transformers, bow thruster motor
• Commissioning, and sea trials support
• Integrated of MAN engines, generators, switchboards, transformers, main propulsion drives, electric propulsion motors and shaft lines for the program of 8 vessels.

Benefits
 

• For the full-electric propulsion system, GE leveraged its proven technologies, building on recent experience in providing power and propulsion solutions for naval ice class vessels for South Africa and Chile, as well as other commercial vessels.
• Induction motor optimized for ice operations, offering high over-torque, eliminating the need for propulsion reduction gears, an important factor for ships operating in heavy, multi-year ice conditions.
• This makes the AOPS propulsion solution highly suitable for a variety of other ice class vessels that could operate in the Arctic and Antarctic.
• GE’s proven MV7000 variable frequency drive is used in many vessel types around the world as well as in numerous industrial applications. This large user base ensures a ready supply of spares and service support.

GE's Power Conversion business supplies high power electrical propulsion system for the latest generation of naval destroyers.

 

Challenge

Futuristic generation of destroyers
The DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer is the U.S. Navy's most advanced multi-mission destroyer, and the U.S. Navy’s first full electric propulsion ship.

Balancing proven capability with future-capable technologies, the navy engaged with industry to help meet its demanding needs. Designed for surface warfare, anti-aircraft and naval fire support, the ship's revolutionary technologies extend from its outward appearance to its on-board equipment.

The innovative external appearance is significantly influenced by the wave-piercing tumblehome hull form, the reverse slopes of the smooth deck, the superstructure and guns. This significantly reduces the radar cross-section, returning much less energy than a more hard-angled hull form. The Navy designed the ship in this way because it wanted a stealth platform that could sail at 30 knots, and it required significant electrical power on board to support the all-electric ship and potential power available for future high energy weapons.
 

Solution
 

The electric propulsion system is, by some margin, the highest power system of its kind fitted to a vessel of this displacement.

• Integrated electric, high voltage system
• U.S. Navy’s first all-electric ship
• 78.5MW installed electrical power, 2 shafts in advanced electric, scalable architecture, providing power for all loads
• De-risking at Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES), Philadelphia
• Shock-rated, full naval specification systems
• Advanced Induction Motors
• Tandem motor configuration with three converter channels per motor
• Transformerless VDM25000 PWM converters
• MV switchboards
• Harmonic filters

Proven, Tested Technology
GE's Power Conversion business had proven its Electric Ship capability and expertise with a related Navy technology demonstration program as early as the late 1990s, supplying its Advanced Induction Motor (AIM) and Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) converter Ship’s Electric Grid technologies for testing at NAVSSES in Philadelphia, PA. In parallel GE had been demonstrating its expertise across other numerous electric and hybrid ship naval and commercial programs.

As the DDG 1000 program evolved, GE Power Conversion supplied its technologies to the Navy’s land-based integrated test facility in Philadelphia, designed for proving high-power naval machines ahead of manufacturing phase.

Following extensive competitive evaluation, GE’s solution was selected to be fitted on the first two ships of the class. In July 2007, Power Conversion finalized details with Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) for the DDG1000 High Voltage Single System Vendor (HVSSV). The agreement covered the dual lead ships of the class at NGSS shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine.
 

Benefits
 

Increased vessel safety and survivability:

• High redundancy at all levels, quiet and shock-capable electrical drive trains.
• Physical separation to suit vessel layout and survivability, connected only by electrical network.
• Enhanced availability, reliability and maintainability: inherently robust power and propulsion plants.

Flexible, frugal and future-proof:

• Lowest number of installed prime movers compared with mechanical or hybrid.
• Energy-efficiency across different duty cycles.
• Easily adaptable to changing mission profiles, and future integration of low/zero emission power sources.
• Total cost of ownership savings in fuel and maintenance, due to running optimum number of prime movers at optimum loadings to match power demand.
• Large amounts of installed electrical power can accommodate significant future increases in combat system loads, such as weapons and radar, with minimal impact.

At 220 meters long and 102 meters wide, Sleipnir entered service as the world’s largest crane vessel, with two 10,000-tonne revolving cranes. GE was chosen to provide a high-performance electrical power and propulsion system powerful enough to meet the operational energy needs of such a ‘sea giant’.
 

Challenge
 

Sleipnir’s career would be faced with critical operational roles, safely lifting and moving some of the largest assets at sea out in challenging deepwater conditions, from wind farm installation to rig decommissioning.

Playing such an important role in the offshore sector’s energy transition, it was important her own systems would be energy-efficient and reliable.

In addition to helping to reduce emissions through GE’s Ship’s Electric Grid power and propulsion solution, Sleipnir was the world’s first crane vessel with dual-fuel engines running on either marine gas oil (MGO) or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
 

Solution

GE’s solution includes an integrated electric propulsion and power network system, conceived and customized to meet requirements specific to the project:

• Generating and distributing electricity to power the vessel’s entire, considerable onboard systems, and therefore enabling its ability to perform on-contract.
• 12 sets of 8-megawatt (MW) generators, eight units of 5.5MW propulsion motors, medium-voltage switchboards, transformers, and MV7000 drives.
• Digital Suite Visor remote monitoring and diagnostics system.
• Entire power system designed for fault tolerance in accordance with Lloyd’s Register’s Rules and Regulations (DP AAA).

Benefits
 

Coupled with GE’s electric propulsion system, the vessel is able to achieve lower emissions when on operations, helping our customers get the job done competitively and sustainably.

• GE’s optimized power architecture is more compact than standard solutions, achieved through our SeaLab team’s system integration expertise.
• Benefitting from GE Power Conversion’s Digital Suite with advanced sensors connected in the network, to monitor the health of each piece of equipment in real time and signal possible malfunctions.
• Together, these measures result in a compact, yet highly sophisticated solution, which facilitates operations while helping to minimize downtime and increase availability.

Latest two new mega cruise ships join the MSC Cruises fleet, 14 of which use electrical propulsion from GE Power Conversion.

As the long-term demand for cruise holidays indicates it will keep increasing, despite recent challenges, fleets continue to grow, incorporating the latest designs.

GE Power Conversion’s marine electric propulsion is an attractive solution for the cruise sector, meeting the requirements for energy-efficient and comfortable ship propulsion alongside electric power to energize the passenger cruise experience.
 

Challenge
 

While stringent regulations and increased vessel sizes may pose new challenges, they bring with them a host of opportunities. We are delighted to continue to partner with a major cruise line with reliable and sustainable technology innovations.

New regulations are driving for more efficient operations with reduced carbon footprint, so while larger sizes of vessels with more facilities are becoming the norm, they need to also set new benchmarks for technology, including reliability and the move towards decarbonization.

With a gross tonnage of 169,400 GT and a total guest capacity of 5,632, MSC Cruises’ Seaside EVO ships are the largest cruise ships ever built by the Fincantieri shipyard.

Solution
 

Sailing full steam ahead, the MSC Cruises Seaside Class showcases our commitment to pushing the boundary of the future of cruising by unlocking the potential that a cruise ship can achieve.

MSC’s latest two mega cruise ships adopt a range of innovative design features and maritime technologies:

• GE electric propulsion system that brings operational efficiency and excellent manoeuvrability.
• GE’s solution consists of propulsion controls along with transformers, variable frequency drive (VFD) technology, propulsion motors and distribution transformers.
• GE-led consortium, with partners Imesa, Nidec, ASI, managing the overall electrical power and propulsion system.

“MSC Seaside EVO ships are longer and consequently more powerful than the previous two ships concerning power generation and propulsion motors. And we once again place our trust and count on GE, among other various partners, to deliver the outcome,” said Emilio La Scala, President & Managing Director, MSC Cruise Management UK.
 

Benefits
 

• The propulsion system will see an increased power rating compared to those onboard the previous two vessels in the series.
• Fuel consumption and reliability of cruise operations are brought together through more efficient and better integrated solutions.
• Reduced weight on board ships also brings fuel savings and altogether lowers MSC’s operating costs.
• Smooth voyage for cruise passengers while bringing cost savings for the operator.
• Eliminates the need for harmonic filters.