MSC’S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP IS EQUIPPED WITH GE’S IN-BOARD PROPULSION SYSTEM

GE Power Conversion was chosen by shipbuilding company Chantiers de l’Atlantique to equip the first two of the World Class vessels, MSC Cruises’ latest class of ships, for improved propulsion performance. The first ship, MSC World Europa, is now in operation at sea and the second vessel is currently in build. This latest one marks the 18th MSC vessel to be powered by GE’s electric propulsion system.

GE Power Conversion’s energy-efficient PWM induction technology, such as that installed onboard MSC World Europa, can help fleet operators comply with ‘clean ship’ regulations while also helping to reduce operating costs in today’s competitive market.

The World Class fleet are no ordinary cruise ship; the LNG dual-fuel vessels are propelled by the most powerful cruise ship electrical motors in operation - two 25 MW, 120-127.5 rpm induction motors - which are fed by four press-pack IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) PWM MV7000 converters. GE Power Conversion’s scope also includes four propulsion transformers and remote control for onboard propulsion, technology that can contribute to improved propulsion reliability and lower maintenance costs during the vessels’ operating life cycle.

The induction technology that GE Power Conversion developed about two decades ago was first used by the world’s navies. Today, it is used widely for a range of vessels which require optimum performance and power output in the multi-megawatt classes for electric power and propulsion efficiency.