MS Turanor PlanetSolar is Ready to Sail Again
03.06.2015
MS Turanor PlanetSolar - the Legend is Ready to Sail Again
MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is the largest solar boat in the world.
This 35 metre (115 feet) catamaran operates solely on solar energy captured by 512m² of solar panels.
The primary purpose was to circumnavigate the blue planet on solar power. The name 'Turanor' comes from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga, and means 'the power of the sun'.
584 Days to Circumnavigate the Globe on Solar Power
On 27 September 2010, MS Tûranor PlanetSolar started a unique epic voyage from the Principality of Monaco. The catamaran sailed more than 37,000 miles (60,000 kilometres) from east to west, following a route near the Equator.
She crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal, the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, the Suez Canal, before finally returning to the Mediterranean Sea.
This solar odyssey ended 584 days later on 4 May 2012 in Monaco. The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar succeeded in completing its first world tour using solar energy.
Optimising the Collection and Storage of Solar Energy
To complete this circumnavigation the engineers had to optimise collection and storage of the energy, as well as the boat’s aerodynamics, its propulsion and choice of materials.
The carbon structure of this power-driven futuristic vessel is lightweight and durable. The 512m2 of photovoltaic panels supply 6 blocks of lithium-ion batteries, to date the largest mobile civilian battery in the world.
This technology provides maximum power and energy density for a new type of autonomous navigation. When the batteries are full, the boat can navigate for 72 hours in complete darkness.
Tûranor PlanetSolar was built in Kiel in the north of Germany. This impressive construction project lasted 14 months and required more than 64,000 hours of work at a cost of around 12 million Euros.
See VIDEO - Turanor PlanetSolar >
MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is getting ready to set sail again!
In April 2015 Tûranor PlanetSolar was given to the Race for Water Foundation. Still under the leadership of historic captain Gérard D’Aboville, the Tûranor PlanetSolar crew are in Venice to assist with the preparations for this new campaign.
The largest solar-powered boat in the world will leave Venice in the very near future. This much awaited departure will mark the start of a brand new solar campaign for the 'PlanetSolar' and 'Race for Water' teams.
Where in the world next...
The Race for Water Odyssey
In September 2014 the search for a new owner who would be able to continue operating the ship began. After only a few weeks of discussion and a meeting in New York at a United Nations conference, the Ströher family decided to offer the solar catamaran to the Race for Water Foundation, which is committed to pursuing the ship’s operation in service of the environment.
The Race for Water Odyssey is a scientific sailing expedition that aims to draw up a comprehensive assessment of plastic ocean pollution. Marco Simeoni, the Race for Water Foundation’s President, is very touched by the confidence the Ströher family has shown. Grateful, he reveals his vision of the solar ship’s future:
“I aspire to equip the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar with a mobile laboratory for collecting and analyzing plastic litter in order to fight against ocean pollution. The history of this unique boat and the enthusiasm she generates at each stopover are powerful communication tools that I would like to put to good use to further the cause for water preservation. Moreover, this ship represents a wonderful pedagogical platform.”
The Ströher family is happy to have found the Race for Water Foundation, a successor with similar values that is capable of sustainably pursuing the ship’s operation in service of environmental preservation.
“PlanetSolar’s objective, on one hand, was to conceptualize an idea that would prove the efficiency of solar technologies, and help in their growth and promotion. And on the other hand, it aimed to demonstrate that above and beyond a technological feat, the ship could be used for practical purposes in connection with sustainable development,” stated Immo Ströher, patriarch of the family.
Thanks to the businessman’s financial commitment and significant personal investment since 2007, PlanetSolar was able to go beyond its initial accomplishment - completing the first exclusively solar-powered trip around the world. PlanetSolar has created a sustainable company with a strong brand and international notoriety.
All images are copyright RIB & HSC 2024 unless otherwise stated.
This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
05.04.2024
Hydro Motion - H2 from NL to England in 2024
The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team wants to cross to…
05.01.2024
The Challenges of Unpredictable Marine Energy
From military to superyacht, it is clear there is an urgent…
Speed@Seawork 2024
Dates:
10th June 2024
Location:
Cowes, Isle Of Wight,
Foiling and Flying RIBs
Foiling powerboat designed to meet military needs - fast, stable, silent, fuel-saving. Collaboration by SEAir Foiling Systems and Sillinger RIBs.…