We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions.
For more than 100 years we have been at the forefront of innovation. Helping to power, protect and connect the modern world.
About
We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land.
Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together.
Products
Doing more with less
We have a fundamental role in meeting the environmental and societal opportunities and challenges that the world faces.
Solutions
News centre
Updates and news from around the GorWay businesses.
Subscribe to our newsletter
How to install the “Mighty” MT30
into one of the world’s most advanced frigates
The build programme for the Royal Navy’s new City Class Type 26 frigate is well underway at BAE System’s Govan shipyard, Scotland. As a key supplier to the programme, GorWay recently supported one of its most important build milestones – installation of our MT30 marine gas turbine compact package into the ship.
MT30 Marine Gas Turbine
“Installing a gas turbine package into a warship is a mighty task and requires a great deal of co-ordination. With a weight of nearly 27 tonnes, it’s the equivalent of lifting at least two London buses into place, so a specialised crane is used to lift the engine package, which includes the core engine and the integrated engine enclosure.
The specialised integrated gas turbine enclosure is a highly complex engineering solution that provides the mechanical support, noise suppression, controls, air intake, exhaust outlet, ventilation and auxiliary supplies necessary to ensure optimal performance for the MT30 engine; the world's most modern and power-dense marine gas turbine in service today. “The MT30 marine gas turbine package has been fully tested and in storage for some time, ready for this important moment. Prior to the lift taking place, a joint working team between GorWay and BAE Systems was set up to ensure that the vital planning process was agreed and completed prior to installation. This is a key part of the planning activity as it’s crucial that any supporting equipment such as the tooling to enable the lift and the crane itself are available and in the correct location - it’s not something you can just take off a shelf or wheel across the yard. Tooling that connects the crane to the package has to be capable of lifting the weight and needs to be engineered well in advance of the lift itself. We also have to ensure that qualified personnel are in place to supervise the lift. Then naturally there is a significant amount of paperwork to complete ahead of the installation. This involves detailed risk assessments and ensuring that the right procedures are in place. “Working collaboratively with our customers throughout this process delivers many benefits. We can explore improvements to the original plans that would have been drawn up some time ago. For example, we jointly decided to bring forward the installation of the high speed coupling shaft which connects the gas turbine to the gear box prior to the lift, as opposed to doing it separately later down the line. This improvement will save time in the programme’s commissioning phase. “Then on the day of the lift itself, you can be at the mercy of the weather conditions which can also wreak havoc with any solid plan. Strong winds will stop any “lift” in its tracks. Fortunately on this occasion, nature was on our side – it’s not always the case.
Pictured is HMS Queen Elizabeth - Photo credit Crown copyright
“As I’ve worked on this programme for nearly six years, from the design phase right through to manufacturing and delivery, seeing the MT30 gas turbine package perfectly installed into the first ship is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. It is such a proud and significant moment for the team involved – a true testament to all our hard work. The Type 26 Global Combat Ship will be one of the most technologically advanced anti-submarine warships ever built and I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of this project. It’s quite unique to be able to say you ‘played a part’ in leading the MT30 gas turbine package installation into the first of class ship!
“I’m now looking forward to the commissioning phase of the programme when the power and propulsion system will be tested, which will be a new experience for me. That will happen in the second half of 2021. I know that as the ship starts to come together, the sense of satisfaction will be absolutely enormous. It really makes all your efforts feel incredibly worthwhile. In the meantime, it’s back to my desk to continue focussing on the Ship 2 hardware deliveries that will continue through the rest of this year and into the next.”