March 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

GE Gas-Turbine Powered Ro/Ro Vessel Iron Monarch Establishes Endurance Record

A new endurance record for gas-turbine powered commercial ships was established recently when the Australian cargo vessel Iron Monarch, equipped with a General Electric marine heavy duty (industrial) gasturbine engine, completed over 10,000 fired hours of operation, and three years operation, without opening of the turbine.

Owned by the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, Ltd., and designed and built at Whyalla Shipbuilding and Engineering Works in South Australia, the Iron Monarch is a vital link in the transportation of steel products along the Australian coast. Her roll-on/ roll-off design permits cargo to be loaded and unloaded more efficiently.

The powerplant is a GE MS-5002R regenerative- cycle heavy-duty gas turbine. The unit has an output of nearly 19,500 shp, capable of producing speeds in excess of 20 knots. The Iron Monarch's gas turbine burns Gippsland waxy residue, a residual fuel indigenous to Australia.

High reliability and low operating costs are the main reasons why the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. selected GE components.

The Iron Monarch has needed only minimal maintenance, usually performed during regularly scheduled inspections by local ship repair mechanics and field service engineers from the Australian General Electric Company.

To date, General Electric heavy-duty gas turbines have been chosen as the propulsion plant for 15 merchant ships. Eight are in service, three have been launched and are now being outfitted, while the others are in varying stages of completion.

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