GE said the Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s made it confident its gas-turbine propulsion system design would be seen as a viable alternative to traditional propulsion methods for the next generation of large LNG tankers.

Traditionally, LNG tankers have been powered by steam turbine engines. But as larger vessels are built to accommodate the growing demand for natural gas, standard propulsion systems are beginning to demonstrate shortcomings, such as low efficiency, high emissions, lack of availability of steam-qualified crew and the high costs associated with scaling steam turbine systems for larger tankers.

GE Energy said it believed its LM2500-based, gas turbine propulsion system addressed those issues and offered many other benefits, including the ability to burn the boil-off gas from LNG containment systems in a natural, reliable and redundant manner.

It also believed its gas turbines werer easier to maintain than other systems.

The project began in early 2005 and recently concluded with hazard identification (HAZID) workshops at GE Energy's Houston factory.