New tug boats featuring GE's 12-cylinder V228 diesel engines are currently operating in the Panama Canal, and more are on the way. One of the new boats, the Sajalices, was christened on April 19th by GE Transportation's VP of Propulsion Systems & Services, Tina Donikowski.

"It was a huge honor to be chosen to christen the Sajalices," said Donikowski. "I was not aware that only a woman can christen a boat, and she is known as the 'Godmother' of that vessel. The operators and crew were very excited to receive the new tug, and they are quite pleased with the performance of the GE engine."

The Sajalices marks the fifth of 13 tugs that were ordered in 2008 by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). The tugs were designed by Robert Allan Ltd. in Vancouver, and built by Cheoy Lee shipyard in Hong Kong. Two additional tugs will also be delivered from SIMA shipyard in Peru later this year. Each boat uses two GE V228 engines.

Recently, nine members of the GE Transportation Marine team, headed down to New Orleans, Louisiana for the International WorkBoat Show. This tradeshow, the largest commercial marine tradeshow in North America, took place December 1 – 3. GE Transportation’s main focus at the show was to showcase the six-cylinder L250 engine.

GE’s six-cylinder L250 engine delivers continuous power up to 2330 kW. This fuel-efficient engine, offers an average of 9% fuel savings, compared to the V228 engine. As an inline configuration, re-power is easy because its narrow inline footprint considers engine room constraints.

Click here more information about the International WorkBoat Show.

Learn more about the L250 engine here.

GE Marine, a unit of GE Transportation, and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced today the start of the commissioning of 13 tugboats for use in the Panama Canal. The 26-engine order represents the largest in the history of GE Marine.

The sale of the 12-cylinder V228 engines through GE’s engine distributor Marinsa was finalized in October 2008. The vessels are being built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards of Hong Kong, the first of which arrived in Panama last week; all of the ships are scheduled to arrive by June 2012.

Yesterday GE Vice Chairman John Rice and Transportation CEO Lorenzo Simonelli spoke at a press conference at the Port of Houston to support a marine and locomotive upgrade project that could achieve Tier 4 emissions standards years ahead of the compliance deadline as well as sustain and create well paying jobs.

Rice and Simonelli cited government leaders support to date and requested their continued support to make Marine and Locomotive Advanced Powertrain Technology Project a reality. 

The L250 has come to U.S. inland waterways.

Following the original agreement in February, GE Marine recently delivered twin GE inline eight cylinder L250 (8L250) inline diesel engines to the Parker Towing Company, Inc. Completion of the deal marks the first time that GE’s 8L250 engine platform will operate commercially on U.S. inland waterways.

Upon its introduction in September of 2008, it was clear the L250 would have a swift impact on the marine industry. The engines are some of the most efficient in their class, offering fuel savings of up to nine percent when compared to the previous generation of marine engines while meeting EPA Tier II emissions standards. Less fuel use means lower operational costs. Throw in factors like maintenance simplicity and on-engine accessories, and it’s no wonder companies like Parker are going with the L250.