MAGNIFICENT - An amazing sight, to see all those solar panels on water at a time when climate denial was rampant in 2012, and with so many solutions available, yet still we are at a crisis point in time as we head into 2020, with no solar powered cargo ships or cruise liners.

MONACO TO MONACO

On 27 September 2010 Tûranor PlanetSolar started on a journey around the world from Monaco. With this expedition, the initiators of the project would like to focus the public awareness on the importance of renewable energies for environmental protection.

The idea was developed by Raphael Domjan and a big team, including:

The great grandson of Jules Verne; Jean Verne;

Jean-Louis Aucouturier, Professor Emeritus at the ENSEIRB Graduate Engineering School - Bordeaux Science and Technology University and President-Founder of the Electric Boats of France (l'Association française pour le bateau électrique - AFBE).; 

Jean-Luc Van Den HeedeJean-Luc Van Den Heede, Navigator and Record Holder of the solo non-stop westward circumnavigation by sailboat. Ten Cape Horn passages, four around the world sailing tours; two of these tours in the Vendée Globe Race; and

Fernand Cuche, Conseiller d'Etat neuchâtelois

THE CREW

The crew of six set out to circumnavigate the globe using only solar power. Captain of the expedition was Frenchman Patrick Marchesseau. Other participants were Christian Ochsenbein (Bern, Switzerland) and Jens Langwasser (Kiel, Germany); as well as project initiator, president and expedition leader Raphaël Domjan (Neuchatel, Switzerland).

On 27 November 2010 the solar boat reached Miami. A significant stopover was Cancún, during the United Nations World Climate Conference.

At the centerline of the world tour, the French Canadian Captain Erwann Le Rouzic took over in New Caledonia mid May 2011, for the further circumnavigation sharing the master's responsibility with Captain Patrick Marchesseau.

On the first solar boat expedition around the globe, the Tûranor PlanetSolar made two records: fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by solar boat and longest distance ever covered by a solar electric vehicle.

After 584 days, Tûranor PlanetSolar returned to Monaco on 4 May 2012 having sailing around the globe. Technical problems with the propeller system had forced the vessel to stay in an Asian port for two weeks of maintenance. 

WORLD TOUR & FOUNDATION

The vessel was scheduled for a refit so it could be chartered to tourists in the Mediterranean Sea. Cruises were planned with 12 passengers and 4 crew on board. But instead did a world PR tour followed by use to sample seawater for plastic.

PLANETSOLAR SPECIFICATIONS

Length 31 m
Length (with “flaps”) 35 m
Width 16 m
Width (with “flaps”) 26 m
Unladen weight 89 t
Height (above the waterline) 6.5 m
Total surface area of the solar panels 536.65 m2 (@17.4% efficiency)
Number of modules 825
Number of photovoltaic cell 38'000
Cell efficiency 22.6%
Total weight of the Li-Ion batteries12 t
Autonomy without sunshine 3 days
Cruising speed 5 knots
Maximum speed 9 knots
Maximum engine power120 kW
Crusing speed power20 kW
Peak performance 93.5 kW

COMPARE DESIGNS

This is a useful comparison table between the Elizabeth Swann and PlanetSolar based on the published details above. Note the Swann's specification is draft and subject to change as the development proceeds, the Planet's spec is actual:

GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS - MS Turanor PlanetSolar (Switzerland) circumnavigated the world in a westward direction from Monaco in 1 year 7 months and 7 days from 27 September 2010 to 4 May 2012.

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