On September 27, 2010, the solar ship MS Tûranor PlanetSolar set sail from the port of Monaco, beginning a historic journey that would lead it to become the first ship to circumnavigate the globe using only solar energy. solar energyAfter a 584-day adventure, the ship returned to the same port on May 4, 2012, demonstrating the capabilities of renewable energy and setting several records. The journey included crossings of the Atlantic, the Panama Canal, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal, and concluded in the Mediterranean Sea. During this odyssey, the ship made stops at 52 ports, helping to promote the use of solar energy.
Features of the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar
The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar stands out as The world's largest solar boat, with a design that makes full use of the solar energy thanks to its 512 square meters of photovoltaic panels, which feed six lithium-ion battery packs, providing a total capacity of 1130 kWh. These batteries allow the boat to sail for up to 72 hours in complete darkness, without the need for an additional power source.
The boat is a catamaran built with a carbon fiber structure, selected to reduce weight and improve durability. With a total weight of close to 60 tons, it optimizes both aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, allowing it to reach maximum speeds of up to 14 knots (approximately 26 km/h).
The trip around the world
The main objective of the project was to demonstrate that a global crossing using only renewable energy was feasible. Led by Swiss Raphaël Domjan, the boat was designed by New Zealand naval architect Craig Loomes and built at the German shipyard Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel.
On 27 September 2010, the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar left Monaco with a crew of six on board. On its journey, it crossed the Atlantic, passed through the Panama Canal into the Pacific Ocean, and then sailed through the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, before returning to Monaco. During the voyage, the ship also made landfall in Cancun, Mexico, coinciding with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2010, which was a crucial step towards the goal of raising awareness of the capabilities of renewable energy and the fight against climate change.
During its 584-day voyage, the ship set several records, including the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by a solar boat and the longest distance ever traveled by a solar-powered vehicle.
A scientific legacy
After completing its circumnavigation of the globe, the MS PlanetSolar was adapted for new purposes. For a time, the ship was used as a mobile scientific research platform under the “PlanetSolar DeepWater” program. This project focused on analyzing the interactions between the atmosphere and the oceans along the Gulf Stream with the aim of studying the impact of climate change in more depth.
Since April 2015, the vessel has also been linked to the Foundation for the preservation of water, actively working to combat marine plastic pollution. This mission aims to raise awareness about the responsible use of natural resources and develop viable solutions for the reuse and recovery of plastic waste.
Future initiatives and change of ownership
In 2015, the ship was transferred to a new owner, Gérard d'Aboville, who renamed it “Race for Water”. Under this new name, the PlanetSolar maintained its focus on research and sustainability, participating in expeditions focused on raising awareness about ocean pollution. The focus of these expeditions was primarily on the impact of plastics in the sea, a serious environmental problem that threatens marine life and coastal ecosystems.
In 2021, the vessel changed ownership again, becoming part of the Porrima association, renamed “MS Porrima”. However, an unfortunate incident occurred in 2022, when the ship suffered a fire in the battery area while sailing in India. This forced an emergency evacuation of the crew, but fortunately, the ship was recovered and moved to a shipyard for further repairs.
Despite these setbacks, the MS PlanetSolar remains a milestone in the history of solar energy applied to maritime transport. Its legacy is not only measured in terms of records and historic voyages, but also by its contribution to the advancement of renewable energy and raising awareness of global environmental challenges.
The future of this ship and its successors remains linked to scientific research and the promotion of sustainable technologies, consolidating itself as a symbol of what clean energy can achieve.