Press Release Yverdon-les-Bains, 14 January 2011
With the force of the sun, heading to the Pacific – MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar crosses the Panama Canal as the first solar vessel – continues the journey to the Galapagos Islands, as planned.
As the world's first solar vessel, the MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar crosses the
Panama on its expedition around the world. Yesterday afternoon the solar catamaran docked in the port of Panama City, after it had crossed the Panama Canal. This 80 km long waterway connects the Atlantic with the Pacific.
After the Christmas break, the great solar boat departed last Saturday from the port of
Cartagena, Colombia and set course first for the City of Colon, the "gateway" to the Panama Canal, on the Atlantic side.
"In the convoy, together with many other ships, it was necessary to maintain an agile rhythm," explains Captain Patrick Marchesseau, describing the journey through this busy waterway. "Thanks to our fully charged batteries, it was possible to successfully solve this task with the TÛRANOR."
With the arrival in Panama City begins for the first expedition in solar boat around the world the next great stage: crossing the Pacific Ocean. To this end, a stop is first planned in the unique animal reserve known worldwide of the Galapagos.
This environmentally friendly solar boat is scheduled to arrive on Monday, January 24, 2011. In the words of the founder of the project, Raphaël Domjan: "We are happy with the meeting, after the animals have behaved in a particularly confident way with our solar boat."
The first stage crossing the Atlantic, with stops in Las Palmas, St. Martin, Miami, Cancun and
Cartagena, the high-tech experiment has been overcome to the total satisfaction of the project team.
The catamaran is a technological project with a view to the future, born of German-Swiss cooperation. The solar boat (length 31 m, width 15 m) participates in the first round the world without any fuel consumption. It is only powered by solar energy. The Planet-Solar project, promoted by the Swiss Raphaël Domjan, will demonstrate the possibilities of renewable energies and inspire people thanks to the ambitious first solar boat expedition. The MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar, which sails the seas under the Swiss flag, literally carries the potential of solar technology around the world.
Authors: Val
