Tûranor PlanetSolar

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| Ship country = Switzerland

| Ship flag = 60px

| Ship name = MS Tûranor PlanetSolar

| Ship owner = PlanetSolar SA from 2015 Race For Water Foundation

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| Ship builder = Knierim Yachtbau, Kiel, Germany

| Ship original cost = €15 million

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| Ship launched = 31 March 2010

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| Ship class = Yacht

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| Ship displacement = 85 tonnes

| Ship length = 31 m (35 m with flaps)

| Ship beam = 15 m (23 m with flaps)

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| Ship propulsion =*2 Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electrical Motors – 60 kW each (max) @ 1600 rpm

2 Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electrical Motors – 10 kW each (max) @ 1000 rpm

| Ship speed =*{{convert|10|kn}} (max)

{{convert|5|kn}} (cruising)

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| Ship crew = 4

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MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, known under the project name PlanetSolar, founded by the Swiss explorer Raphaël Domjan, is the largest solar-powered boat in the world{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/02/26/planetsolar-100-catamarn-has-38000-photovaltaic-solar-cells-set-to-sail-in-march/|title=PlanetSolar 100′ catamaran has 38,000 photovaltaic solar cells, set to sail in March|publisher=Mobile Magazine|first=Fabrizio|last=Pilato|date=26 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302144352/http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/02/26/planetsolar-100-catamarn-has-38000-photovaltaic-solar-cells-set-to-sail-in-march/|archive-date=2 March 2010|access-date=30 March 2010}} and launched on 31 March 2010. The vessel was designed and engineered by LOMOcean Marine. In May 2012, the vessel became the first solar electric vehicle ever to circumnavigate the globe taking 584 days between 2010 and 2012.{{cite web|title=Ankunft in Monaco: Solarboot schafft Weltumrundung in 584 Tagen |language=de | first=Hanna |last=Gieffers |work=Spiegel Online |date=4 May 2012 | access-date=5 May 2012 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/reise/aktuell/planetsolar-solarboot-kehrt-von-weltreise-zurueck-a-831418.html}}

The boat was renamed Race for Water in 2015, after the name of the foundation which then operated the vessel and was dedicated to water conservation missions and to protect the oceans from plastic pollution.{{cite web|url=https://www.planetsolar.swiss/en/world-premiere/boat/|title=The Boat|website=Planet Solar}} In 2021, new owners Porrima projects renamed the ship Porrima.{{Cite web |title=A new owner for the Race for Water vessel |url=https://www.sailworldcruising.com/news/235630/A-new-owner-for-the-Race-for-Water-vessel |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=www.sailworldcruising.com}}

In September 2022, Porrima ran aground in India and was heavily damaged.{{Cite web |last=swissinfo.ch |first=S. W. I. |date=2022-09-13 |title=Swiss solar-powered catamaran PlanetSolar remains stranded in India |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/swiss-solar-powered-catamaran-planetsolar-remains-stranded-in-india/47895962 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}}

Technical characteristics

The 31-metre boat is covered by 537 m²{{Cite web|url= http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/1/first-circumnavigation-by-solar-powered-boat |title=First Circumnavigation by Solar-Powered Boat |publisher= Guinness Records}} of solar panels rated at 93 kWp,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2010/2010-02-27-02.html |title=PlanetSolar Unveils World's Largest Solar Boat |publisher= Environment News Service|date=February 27, 2010}} which in turn connect to two electric motors, one in each hull. There are 8.5 tons of lithium-ion batteries in the ship's two hulls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/6/22/4454980/ms-turanor-planetsolar-solar-powered-boat-photo-essay |title=An inside look at the world's largest solar-powered boat |publisher= The Verge|date=June 22, 2013}} The boat's shape allows it to reach speeds of up to {{convert|10|kn|km/h}}.{{Cite web | url=http://www.das-solarboot.de/technical-data-sheet.html | title=Technical Data Sheet | publisher=PlanetSolar | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705115607/http://www.das-solarboot.de/technical-data-sheet.html | archive-date=2010-07-05 }} The hull was model tested in wind tunnels and was tank tested to determine its hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. The boat was designed to be used as a luxury yacht after the record attempt was finished.{{Cite web |url=http://lomocean.com/project.php?id=7 |title=PlanetSolar |publisher=LOMOcean Design |access-date=2010-04-24 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }} The vessel was later used as an Ambassador for the project Race for Water.

The boat is registered in Switzerland and was financed by a German entrepreneur, Immo Ströher and designed by New Zealand naval architect Craig Loomes.{{cite web|url=https://www.planetsolar.swiss/en/world-premiere/boat/|title=The Boat|website=Planet Solar website}} Construction cost was €15 million.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kn-online.de/lokales/kiel/148722-Das-Solarschiff-faehrt.html|first=Frank|last=Behling|title=Das Solarschiff fährt|language=de|date=24 April 2010|publisher=Kieler Nachrichten|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426211754/http://www.kn-online.de/lokales/kiel/148722-Das-Solarschiff-faehrt.html|archive-date=26 April 2010|access-date=26 April 2010}} The name Tûranor, derived from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings, translates to "The Power of the Sun".{{Cite web |url=http://www.das-solarboot.de/index.html |title=A Milestone in the Progress of Solar Mobility |publisher=PlanetSolar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705115539/http://www.das-solarboot.de/index.html |archive-date=2010-07-05 }}

Around the world

File:2010 09 05 Planit Solar 1.JPG

On 27 September 2010, Tûranor PlanetSolar set off from Monaco to circumnavigate the globe solely with the aid of solar power. One aim of the project was to focus public awareness on the importance of renewable energies for environmental protection.

The boat had a full-time crew of four including:{{Cite web|title=Team – Fondation PlanetSolar|url=https://www.planetsolar.swiss/en/world-premiere/team/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=www.planetsolar.swiss}}

Raphaël Domjan of Switzerland, expedition leader
Christian Ochsenbein of Switzerland, electrical engineer
Jens Langwasser of Germany, quartermaster
Patrick Marchesseau of France, skipper for the first half of the voyage from Monaco to Nouméa and the high-risk leg from Abu Dhabi to Port Sudan
Erwann Le Rouzic of France, skipper for the second half of the voyage from Nouméa to Monaco

Additional crew members joined the voyage during select legs of the voyage including extra security in the Gulf of Aden.{{Cite web|title=Logbook – Fondation PlanetSolar|url=https://www.planetsolar.swiss/en/world-premiere/logbook/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=www.planetsolar.swiss|page=Log Entry of March 5th, 2012|no-pp=y}}

A significant stopover was Cancún, Mexico, during the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference held there from 29 November to 10 December 2010. During the expedition, Tûranor PlanetSolar broke two records: the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by solar boat and the longest distance ever covered by a solar electric vehicle. Tûranor PlanetSolar returned to Monaco on 4 May 2012 after 584 days sailing around the globe.

2013 voyage and transatlantic record

After an engine refit, Tûranor PlanetSolar broke its own record, crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Las Palmas to Saint Martin in the Caribbean in only 22 days, four days faster than on the circumnavigation trip. The boat left Las Palmas on 25 April and arrived in Marigot on Saint Martin on 18 May. The trip led to Miami, Florida, and then continued as a scientific expedition along the Gulf Stream.{{cite news|title=PlanetSolar – four days faster across the Atlantic|url=http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/PlanetSolar---four-days-faster-across-the-Atlantic/109618|access-date=19 May 2013|newspaper=Sail World|date=19 May 2013}} On the return trip the boat reached St John's, Newfoundland, on 1 August 2013 before heading back across the Atlantic.{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2013-08-02/article-3336478/Solar-ship-visits-St.-Johns/1 |title=Solar ship visits St. John's |first=Rhonda |last=Hayward |date=2 August 2013 |work=The Telegram |access-date=14 August 2016}}

Gallery

PlanetSolar-Construction-Kiel-20091106.jpg|Construction in Kiel, Germany.

Tûranor PlanetSolar (02).jpg|At the shipyard of Concarneau.

PlanetSolar IMG 6175.jpg|View of the bow, showing the three hulls.

PlanetSolar Datenblatt.jpg|Original data sheet on the fuselage.

PlanetSolar Gangway.jpg|View of the gangway.

PlanetSolar a accosté Quai André Citroen à Paris.JPG|Louis Boisgibault (left), author of academic books on energy transition, meets crew.

PlanetSolar Propeller.JPG|View of the surface piercing propeller.

PlanetSolar Heckansicht.jpg|View of the stern of the ship.

PlanetSolar-IMG 9576.JPG|Top view of extended solar panels.

Porrima sailing to the West.jpg|The vessel at sea, renamed Porrima by new owners, 2022.

References

External links

{{official|https://www.porrima.ch/en/}} - Current owner.
[https://www.planetsolar.swiss/en/ Planet Solar Foundation] - Original owner.
{{YouTube|id=zbE5aEVTVDs|title=Documentary on PlanetSolar's circumnavigation of the globe}}
[http://www.360tourist.net/everything-everywhere/planet-solar-english/ Virtual Tour of the PlanetSolar in Egypt]

Category:Solar-powered vehicles

Category:Electric boats

Category:Motor yachts

Category:Catamarans

Category:2010 ships

Category:Circumnavigations

Category:Photovoltaics

Category:Solar power in Switzerland