Union Mechling Names
Parker Fleet Manager
H.E. Parker
H.E. Parker has joined Union
Mechling Corporation, the subsid-
iary barge line of Dravo Corpo-
ration, as fleet manager. He will
be headquartered in Pittsburgh,
Pa., and will have responsibility
for towboat and barge assignment
and scheduling.
Mr. Parker has 17 years' expe-
rience in industrial engineering,
production control and transpor-
tation. He was formerly general
transportation manager, bulk op-
erations, for Hunt-Wesson Foods,
Inc.
Mr. Parker is a graduate of
California Polytechnic University,
Pomona, Calif.
G.E. Marine Gas
Turbines To Power
German Frigate Ships
The Federal Republic of Ger-
many has announced selection of
the General Electric LM2500 ma-
rine gas turbine as the power
plant for its new F-122 class of
frigate ships. The LM2500 is
produced by GE's Marine and In-
dustrial Projects Department in
Evendale, Ohio.
The initial order is for 12 ma-
rine gas turbine modules, two for
each of six new 3,400-ton frigates.
As a result of this order, a com-
plete LM2500 engine support and
maintenance center will be estab-
lished in West Germany.
O.R. Bonner, general manager
of the Marine and Industrial Proj-
ects Department, noted that with
the receipt of this order "the
General Electric LM2500 marine
gas turbine has now been selected
by the navies of two nations to
power new naval craft, thus mak-
ing the LM2500 the world leader
in gas turbine propulsion." He
added that "today, the LM2500
is operational in six U.S. Navy
Spruance-class destroyers as well
as the U.S. Navy/NATOPHM hy-
drofoil ship."
The LM2500's efficient design,
coupled with the low fuel con-
sumption, provides ships with
improved operational capabilities
and flexibility, allowing extended
range and the ability to carry a
greater volume and weight of
weaponry. The LM2500 is de-
signed for long life, permitting
extended overhaul intervals and
lower maintenance costs. Main-
tainability features of the LM-
2500, based on the GE CF6
aircraft engine, permit faster
maintenance, increasing a shipV
operational availability.
The LM2500 was designed, and
has been fully qualified through
a series of exhaustive tests by
the U.S. Navy, for naval marine
service. To date, the LM2500s
have logged over 100,000 hours
of marine service.
The Iranian Navy has also se-
lected the LM2500 to power its
version of the Spruance-class
ships. This year, the first of a
fleet of U.S. Navy FFG guided
missile frigates, powered by two
LM2500 gas turbines, will go into
active service. Australia has or-
dered this class of ship for its
Navy.
The first Italian fast frigate,
the Lupo, was launched last year,
and has successfully completed
its propulsion sea trials. This
ship has been selected by the
Italian, Peruvian and Venezuelan
navies. Other LM2500 installa-
tions include the new Danish
Navy KV-72 class of Corvettes,
the new Indonesian Navy patrol
ships, and a new class of Saudi
Arabian gunboats. The 10 coun-
tries that have selected LM2500s
to power new shipbuilding pro-
grams represent more than 150
ships. With this buy, the German
Navy, one of the leading NATO
powers, joins the growing num-
ber of world navies powered by
the LM2500.
The year that changed
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COMSAT GENERAL CORPORATION
mSf 950 L'Enfant Plaza, Southwest Washington. D. C 20024
COMSAT General. Communicators to the maritime world.
July 15, 1977 7
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