GTV " Iron Carpentaria BHP bulk carrier commissioned in 1978.
Powered by a GE MS3112R 11,000 two shaft gas turbine, mechanical
drive through a variable pitch propeller. Her sister ship was the GTV
Iron Curtis. These turbines were a heavy duty design with regenerators
for improved cycle efficiency. The regenerators were the weak link
as due to thermal cycling developed cracks which allowed comressor
air flow to leak into the exhaust reducing the turbine power.
The gas turbine was very reliable and the engineers loved them (
no pulling pistons everytime you stopped). As the fuel cost increased
the economic advantage decreased against diesel. These machines used heavy crude oil although they started and stopped on distillate
to keep the fuel lines clear.

This photo taken at Port Kembla while on a service visit.

Denis Bainbridge