Project partners GTT, CMA CGM (and its subsidiary CMA Ships) and DNV GL signed a cooperation agreement with new project participants ABB, the Caterpillar company Solar Turbines, and OMT for phase two of the PERFECt project.
The Piston Engine Room Free Efficient Containership project investigates the possibility of using a combined gas and steam turbine system (COGAS) to power an ultra large container vessel (ULCS). The first phase of the project performed by GTT, CMA Ships and DNV GL showed promising results with regard to the commercial competitiveness of the design compared to an LNG-fuelled ship with conventional propulsion system. The aim of the second phase of the project is to detail the technical concept and the commercial feasibility.
PERFECT Vessel
In phase one of the project GTT, CMA CGM (and its subsidiary CMA Ships) and DNV GL released a technical and feasibility study for a COGAS-powered LNG-fuelled electrically driven mega box ship. Based on the results of that study, the PERFECt vessel design was found to offer potentially increased cargo capacity, greater layout flexibility and reduced maintenance costs than comparable conventionally powered HFO and LNG designs.
Ludovic Gérard, Executive Vice President CMA Ships: 'The COGAS system with electrical propulsion gives us a great deal of freedom in the general arrangement and in tailoring the installed power to the real operational requirements we are facing. New partners will bring their expertise to go further than the initial concept.'
PERFECt II
PERFECt II will build on the results of the original study which was launched in 2015, utilising the technical expertise of the project partners to further optimise the overall design. Some of the focus areas for phase two are: process technology optimisation of the COGAS system including the steam turbine, use of the available cooling capacity of the LNG, and further optimisation of the ship design to attain greater efficiency and increased cargo capacity.
Picture: The cooperation was signed at SMM 2016 by (from left to right): Rune Lysebo, Senior Vice President Sales at ABB, Ennodio Ramos, Vice President, Power Generation and Strategic Growth at Solar Turbines Inc., Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime, Ludovic Gérard, Executive Vice President CMA Ships, Thomas Eefsen, Business Development Director for Containerships at OMT, Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and CEO of GTT.
