Baker Hughes' fuel flexible NovaLT™16 Gas Turbine Certified by RINA for Marine Propulsion

G. Vezzuto, RINA and A. Eldemerdash, Baker Hughes during Posidonia 2026 in Athens, Greece © Paterakis Niki

RINA, the inspection, certification and consulting engineering multinational and Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, has announced that RINA awarded a Type Approval certification to Baker Hughes for its NovaLT™16 gas turbine technology, specifically to operate on natural gas and up to 100% hydrogen for marine propulsion applications.

The certification was announced during Posidonia 2026 in Athens, Greece—one of the world's premier shipping events. This milestone marks a significant step in the ongoing collaboration between RINA and Baker Hughes to explore the use of advanced gas turbine technology in the maritime sector, as shipowners seek viable solutions to decarbonise operations in response to evolving regulatory frameworks.

Giosuè Vezzuto Marine Executive Vice President at RINA, said: "This certification highlights the value of early collaboration between technology developers and classification societies when introducing innovations to the maritime sector. By supporting the assessment of the NovaLT™ turbine, we contribute to ensuring that the solution is aligned with safety, performance and regulatory expectations."

Ahmed Eldemerdash, Vice President Climate Technology Solutions at Baker Hughes said: "Decarbonizing maritime shipping requires solutions that deliver performance today and flexibility for tomorrow—without compromising reliability or safety. With RINA's Type Approval of our NovaLT™16 turbine, we are advancing a proven, fuel-flexible platform ready for real-world marine applications. This milestone reflects how we are Rewriting The Energy Equation™— applying proven technologies in new ways to help customers balance energy security, affordability, and sustainability."

Originally developed for industrial power generation applications, the NovaLT™ gas turbine family combines compact design, high efficiency and operational flexibility. The technology operates in the 12-17megawatt (MW) range in simple cycle and up to 22 MW in combined cycle applications, offering high availability and extended maintenance intervals of up to 35,000 hours. Through a dedicated maritime validation process, the NovaLT™16 technology meets the specific requirements of onboard installation and operation, enabling compliance with maritime regulations and seamless integration into ship systems.

As the maritime sector accelerates its transition to alternative fuels, gas turbines are gaining attention for their high-power density, operational flexibility, and ability to support new propulsion architectures, including electric and hybrid systems for lower CO2 emissions - especially when compared to conventional two-stroke and four-stroke diesel engines. Baker Hughes NovaLT™ turbine technology is designed to operate with natural gas and is being further enhanced to support multiple fuels, including low- and zero-carbon fuels such as 100% hydrogen - positioning it as a key enabler for long-term maritime decarbonisation.