GE’s Power Conversion business (NYSE: GE) today celebrated the inauguration and roll out of its agreement with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) to invest in improving the capabilities of the shipping engineering community in China by building laboratory facilities and cooperating on research and innovation projects. The agreement between GE and SMU, which was first announced in April 2013, provides SMU students with opportunities for internships and training, which could lead to future employment, and further establishes GE’s position as a leader in marine electrical propulsion technology, supporting China’s shift to a high-value, high-technology marine sector.

“Shanghai Maritime University is committed to nurturing talent and is strongly determined to become a major talent pool and think tank for China’s shipping industry. Our goal is to become a world-class maritime university by the year 2020. To realize this goal, we need help from world-famous multinationals like GE. I firmly believe that Shanghai Maritime University and GE will realize a win-win partnership by joining hands to make use of their unique advantages and will cooperate on innovative and practical solutions,” said Mr. Huang Youfang, president of Shanghai Maritime University.

GE and SMU are working on finalizing the design of the new marine laboratory facility, which is the first of its kind in China. The core concept of the laboratory includes a back-to-back design, featuring both GE’s medium-voltage (MV7000) and low-voltage (MV3000) systems in one lab design. This will include the transformer, drive, motor and other accessories. The training program will focus on GE’s core technologies and solutions that integrate complete power and propulsion systems, vessel control and automation systems. Installation of the new marine laboratory is planned to begin in early 2015, with commissioning planned before 2016.

“Environmental demands in China are changing ship design and propulsion technology, and GE’s innovative solutions support the shift to high-value vessels that operate efficiently while reducing emissions and meeting these stringent environmental regulations,” said Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of GE’s Power Conversion business. “Apart from that, we will invest in China’s next generation of marine propulsion engineers by providing education and training for top-level operation, inspection and maintenance systems.”

SMU is a multidisciplinary university that encompasses such areas as engineering, management, economics, law, liberal arts and science, with a special emphasis on shipping technology, economics and management. SMU is one of the leading universities in China and is dedicated to marine and related disciplines; today SMU lists 60,000 graduates, contributing to the rapid growth of the Chinese shipping industry.

GE’s Power Conversion business designs and manufactures high-power electrical propulsion solutions based on large, high torque density induction machines specifically designed for marine propulsion and fed by the most up-to-date generation of medium-voltage press-pack IGBT (PPI) converters. GE’s propulsion systems can be found in large cruise ships, LNG carriers, research vessels and drilling rigs and are renowned for their efficiency and reliability.