Dalian Shipyard Chooses GE to Deliver Drive and Automation System for Goliath Crane to Build Next-Generation LNG Tankers and Container Vessels
Fourth Dalian Order for GE’s Sophisticated Crane Technology Bringing Total to 21 around the World for This Large Type of Crane.New Equipment Handles Even Higher Loads to Meet Requirement for Building Larger Vessels.PARIS — May 28,
2013 — When the time came to expand Dalian Shipyard’s shipbuilding and repair
facilities to build next-generation LNG tankers and container vessels, they
turned to long-term partner GE Power Conversion (NYSE:GE) to supply the
complete drive and automation system for Goliath Crane. Over their 12-year
relationship, GE has helped Dalian Shipyard to remain competitive by supplying
drive and automation technology up to the latest standards, as well as by
adapting its drive solutions to Dalian Shipyard’s requirements making them more
customized and flexible in connecting existing components and systems to GE’s
crane technology.
The shipbuilding business is continually evolving based on the increased size
of LNG tankers and container vessels, the demand to build these ocean mammoths
quicker while maintaining the ever-present safety requirements and the need to
manage or reduce energy use. GE’s sophisticated Goliath crane and accompanying
drive system combined with the company’s long-term experience and track record
of supplying these systems is helping Dalian Shipyard to meet these demands.
“We’ve been working with GE for 12 years. Their ability to customize drive and
automation systems for large cranes is helping support the development of our
shipbuilding and repair operations,” said Gao Guo Chun, project manager at
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd. “GE’s technology
enables two of these 600-ton cranes to work simultaneously, enabling the
handling of higher loads required for building larger vessels. At the same
time, GE’s drive system technology saves significant amounts of energy. Working
together with GE helps us continually push the boundaries of shipbuilding.”
GE’s drive technology delivers efficient and flexible control of electric power
and is particularly designed to work and perform reliably under often severe
environmental conditions. It brings optimized energy consumption and low
pollution management by using active rectifiers. The control system is used to
control both the drive and the crane. It is an innovative solution, which includes
all the hardware and software interfaces for drive-related control functions
such as encoder connections, brake inputs and outputs and fast inputs for
safety and positioning functions. Important to Dalian Shipyard is the automatic
skew control system (ASCS) control and regulation software, which ensures two
gantry sides, both have a length around 200 meters, run simultaneously.
Furthermore, GE’s drive system high-overload capability, fault-tolerant design,
intuitive and fast error-tracking capabilities offer robustness and increased
availability of the equipment to the shipyard, helping to improve their
performance in building vessels. Additionally, GE’s drive system brings reduced
noise and heat emissions, has a low space requirement due to its compact design
and offers high flexibility and low maintenance. It features quick replacement
time of modules without the need for special tools or equipment.
“Our fully integrated crane management systems are helping our customers meet
the evolving and demanding needs of the shipbuilding industry,” says Pascal
Cros, general industry business leader, GE Power Conversion. “Our solutions are
designed using active energy management and configurations enabling simplified
status, diagnostics and fault detection so the operator can monitor all
functions and data to improve overall operation of the crane. We’ve been
working with Dalian Shipyard for many years. We understand their needs and
together we are working on solutions that can help strengthen their role among
China’s shipyards.”