Aeroderivative gas turbine powered cruise ships

GE Vernova’s aeroderivative gas turbine specialists support aero units in all sorts of situations – on land and at sea! As vacationers head to exotic locales aboard their favorite cruise ships, odds are they’ll see a GE Vernova’s Gas Power One Field Services aboard too, supporting the turbines that help keep the lights on, the kitchens operating, and the WiFi working. And when it comes time to replace one of the turbines, it’s a delicate operation to get the old engine safely off the ship and install the new one without damaging the vessel in the process.

What can a ship using GE turbines accomplish in 274 days? A trip that breaks records and hits all seven continents! Royal Caribbean has billed its Ultimate World Cruise as the longest world cruise in history, and it takes place aboard the 962-foot Serenade of the Seas—with GE Vernova’s LM2500+ gas turbines getting things underway.
 

"We love the reliability of GE [Vernova]’s LM2500 gas turbines, especially for their durable design and low downtime. In cases of both planned and unplanned work, we can replace the entire engine of a cruise ship in 12 hours. This makes it a dream for every engineer on board."

When she was launched in 2003, the RMS Queen Mary 2 was considered the largest passenger ship to sail the ocean blue. While she has lost that distinction in recent years, the Queen Mary 2 still offers one of the fastest and most ecologically friendly trans-Atlantic voyages available, partly thanks to its use of GE Vernova LM2500+ turbine engines. Had the Queen Mary 2 been powered using only tradition reciprocating engines, it would have needed upwards of eight units, which would have also reduced the number of available cabins for passengers.

Using a pair of GE Vernova turbines in place of four reciprocating engines saved a considerable amount of space and weight. Plus, using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel helps reduce emissions, allowing the vessel to access environmentally protected areas without issue.

The HSC Francisco Papa—named in honor Pope Francis (a native Argentinian)—is a ferry transporting passengers and automobiles between Buenos Aires and Montevideo (146 nautical miles). Boasting a pair of GE Vernova LM2500 turbine engines—which are smaller, lighter, and narrower than comparable reciprocating engines—this catamaran-style vessel is touted as the fastest ship operating on the water today.

The Francisco Papa runs on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine distillate (diesel) fuel, making it one of the world’s most environmentally friendly boats as well. Plus, with the ship’s special turbine rotation feature, the Francisco Papa has an impressive 98% availability.