New agreement to improve shipping capabilities

Through this cooperation agreement, GE’s Power Conversion business will provide students from SMU with opportunities for internships and training, which could lead to future employment. At the same time, GE will benefit from advancing its position in marine electrical propulsion technology.

Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of GE’s Power Conversion business, said: “The shipbuilding industry in China is capturing a large share of international attention, and environmental demands are changing ship design and propulsion technology. This agreement will help China develop and deliver competitive vessels that must meet exacting international sustainability standards.”

The training programme will focus on GE’s core technologies and solutions that integrate complete power and propulsion systems, vessel control and automation systems as well as dynamic positioning.

In addition to this, GE’s Power Conversion business and SMU will invest in and set up laboratory facilities, the first of their kind in China, which will execute jointly agreed research and development programmes based on electrical propulsion systems.

The cooperation programme and the dedicated facilities will form the foundation of training for students, teachers as well as operators and can be extended to customers in the region and the certification of professional technicians.

SMU is one of the leading universities in China and is dedicated to marine and related disciplines – it has produced 60,000 graduates, qwhich it says have contributed to the rapid growth of the Chinese shipping industry.