Page "Gas turbine" Paragraph 138

Between 1970 and 1982, Seatrain Container Lines operated a scheduled container service across the North Atlantic with four container ships of 26, 000 tonnes deadweight tonnage ( DWT ).

Those ships were powered by twin Pratt & Whitney gas turbines of the FT 4 series.

The four ships in the class were named " Euroliner ", " Eurofreighter ", " Asialiner " and " Asiafreighter ".

They operated a transatlantic container service between ports on the eastern seaboard of the United States and ports in north west Europe.

Following the dramatic OPEC ( Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ) price increases of the mid-nineteen seventies, operations were constrained by rising fuel costs.

Some modification of the engine systems on those ships was undertaken to permit the burning of a lower grade of fuel ( i. e., marine diesel ).

The modifications were partially successful.

It was proved that particular fuel could be used in a marine gas turbine but, savings made were less than anticipated due to increased maintenance requirements.

After 1982 the ships were sold, then re-engined with more economical diesel engines.

Because the new engines were much larger, there was a consequential loss of some cargo space.