GE enters the container ship industry with a contract with Maersk Line

GE’s Marine Solutions announces the expansion of its offering with the signing of a key contract to provide the latest in auxiliary electric systems to Maersk Line, the world’s leading container ship operator. GE’s Power Take Off/Power Take In (PTO/PTI) technology consists of two drives, two induction motors and a power management system. The global container ship industry continues to grow at a steady rate, as around 90 percent of the world’s trade[1] is carried across the sea. International shipping connects countries, markets, businesses and people, allowing them to buy and sell goods on a scale not previously possible. As consumers, we have become used to seeing goods from all parts of the globe readily available in the stores we visit.
The PTO/PTI solution provided to Maersk Line for 11, 2nd generation Triple-E container vessels with a capacity of 19,630 TEU, is comprised of a shaft generator motor installed between the main engine and the propeller. It acts as either a generator or a booster to generate electricity from slow streaming speeds all the way up to the design speed of the vessel. The PTO/PTI technology will be installed onboard vessels built by the DSME shipyard in Korea.
The PTO/PTI technology harnesses the mechanical energy of the vessel’s drive shaft to convert it into electrical energy. This excess energy is then directed to onboard systems when it is required, which diminishes the need to burn fuel to power these systems. The result in fuel savings is significant, especially when coupled with improved operational flexibility. Unlike its competitors, the electric machine is equipped with induction motors instead of synchronous motors. By removing transformers, it offers a simpler design and therefore reduces the complexity of the system, making it more reliable and requiring less CAPEX. The arrangement of induction motors reduces the frequency and extent of maintenance, and combined with the system’s fuel saving characteristics, bringing down the operational expenses for customers.