ALCYONE research vessel 1985

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

ALCYONE research vessel 1985

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:51 pm

Built as a research vessel under yard No 1238 by Soc. Nouvelle des At. & Ch. De La Rochelle-Pallice, La Rochelle, France for the Foundation Cousteau, La Rochelle.
Tonnage 114 grt, 48 net, dim. 31.02 x 9.01 x 2.67m.
Powered by two Fiat oil 4SA 6-cyl., 330 bhp. each, speed 10.75 knots.
Turbo-sails height 33.5ft, surface area 226 sq. ft., diameter 4.5ft.
Accommodation for a total of 12 people.
Designed by André Mauric, her hull combines the advantages of monohull fore and catamaran aft. She serves as stable platform for filming or science and the unique split of the rear deck provides quick access for divers and boats.
Launched under the name ALCYONE, named after the daughter of the Greek god of wind.
1985 Completed.

The name has proven that wind can add both power and speed to a ship’s performance while sharply reducing fuel consumption.
She is a new breed of ship. Its 33foot tall aluminium sails like airplane wings significantly boost the twin diesel engines for an average one-third power savings. A small fan in each sail draws in air increasing wind speed over the leeward side giving a forward lift.

Her maiden voyage was a Tran’s Atlantic crossing and the beginning of her sea career. She travelled the length of the Americas around stormy Cape Horn to the Cocos Islands, the Sea of Cortex, the Channel Islands of California and Hawaii.
She made a call at the World Expo in Vancouver, then sailed to Alaska and the Bering Sea; from there she descended across the Pacific Ocean to Papua New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, Madagascar and South Africa.
After a brief respite ALCYONE bore the Cousteau crew inland to the Caspian Sea for the “Year of the Ocean Expedition”
1999 She crossed the Atlantic again to begin her mission to the St Lawrence River.

2010 In service, IMO No 8412833.

Nauru 1998 90c sgMS495, scott?
Micronesia 1997 $2 sg?, scott?
Togo 2010 sg?, scott?
At Thomas et Principe 2007 14000DB and in margin.

Source: Various web-sites.
Attachments
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tmp119.jpg
CousteauSHT021.jpg
CousteauSS022.jpg
2007 S-Tome.jpg

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