Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 16, 1985)

Cousteaus Experimental Windship 'Alcyone' Arrives In New York

The experimental windship Al- cyone arrived in New York recently after a highly successful trans-At- lantic crossing from La Rochelle,

France. The maiden voyage, with

Capt. Jacques-Yves Cousteau aboard, was designed to test exten- sively the Cousteau-Pechinev Tur- bosail™ wind propulsion system with which the vessel is equipped.

The unique craft docked at the

South Street Seaport Museum on the East River. It was joined by the

Cousteau Society's famed research vessel Calypso, which recently un- derwent an extensive refurbishing at Saint Augustine Shipbuilding in

Florida, and accompanied by Coast

Guard, police, and fire boats, as well as a flotilla of private vessels from

New York area yacht clubs.

At dockside ceremonies, Captain

Cousteau told the assembled guests, representing the press, dip- lomatic corps, business and finan- cial community, academia, and gov- ernment, that the Alcyone far ex- ceeded expectations and "sailed like the wind. I would take her any- where," he added.

Named after the daughter of the

Greek god of the wind, the Alcyone was launched earlier this year at La

Rochelle, and went through exten- sive sea trials in that vicinity. The voyage to New York included sched- uled stopovers in the Azores and

Bermuda for additional sea trials and filming.

Fondation Cousteau, with the help of the Paris-based Pechiney company, began construction of the

Alcyone in May last year. The vessel is 103 feet long and constructed entirely of aluminum. She was built for the high seas and is equipped with two all-aluminum Turbosail units. A microcomputer controls the

Turbosail propulsion system and operates both in response to the cli- matic conditions encountered and to direct orders from the vessel's captain. The computer also records all pertinent data for future study.

The Cousteau-Pechiney Turbo- sail system utilizes wind for the pro- pulsion source. The aluminum "sails"—the Turbosail units—are hollow, orientable cylinders with suction areas on both sides. A fan on top of the cylinder draws air through the open, leeward side in order to create the lift phenomenon needed for propulsion. The move- ment of the sails is controlled elec- tronically.

Renewed interest in wind as an auxiliary is linked to the high cost of fossil fuels. "The Cousteau-Pechi- ney Turbosail system that propels the Alcyone was designed to harness this clean, natural resource of which there is an unlimited supply." said

Captain Cousteau.

The Turbosail system is designed to cut fuel costs for commercial ves- sels by 15 to 25 percent, depending on the routes sailed and the winds encountered. "This technology rep- resents a significant potential sav- ings to the shipping industry, as well as the conservation of large amounts

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Circle 127 on Reader Service Card of fossil fuels," said George-Yves

Kervern, president of Pechiney's

Aluminum Branch, which did ex- tensive work on the Turbosail sys- tem at its research and development center in Voreppe, France.

Pechiney is also perfecting a range of Turbosail systems for a number of different types of ships.

A marketing study conducted by

Pechiney and Fondation Cousteau indicates that by 1990, there will be a potential of around 100 new or existing merchant ships a year that could be equipped with the system.

They essentially will be merchant ships of 3,000 to 80,000 dwt; 90 per- cent of the ships built today fall into this category. Fishing vessels also constitute a promising market for this auxiliary propulsion system.

During tbe next two years, Al- cyone will continue her voyage around the world to further prove out the system's commercial feasi- bility. During this period, it is planned to install the Turbosail sys- tem on a commercial vessel. Cur- rently, Pechiney is studying, along with Fondation Cousteau and a shipbuilder, and with the help of the

European Economic Community

Commission, the possibility of in- stalling the system on a 5,000-dwt vessel that is scheduled to be launched in March 1986.

Fondation Cousteau, headquar- tered in France, and The Cousteau

Society of the U.S., are nonprofit environmental research organiza- tions dedicated to the preservation and improvement of life on our planet. Both organizations are un- der the direction of Captain Cous- teau.

Pechiney is a major world produc- er of aluminum, advanced metals and materials, nuclear fuels, and carbon and copper products. The company maintains a growing com- mercial network in 65 countries, which will allow international mar- keting of the Turbosail system.

George Panitz

Journalist/NYSA Executive

George Panitz, a vice president of public relations for the New York

Shipping Association, Inc., and a former maritime editor with the

New York Journal of Commerce, died at his home in Brooklyn recent- ly at the age of 65.

A native of the Bronx, Mr. Pan- itz spent most of his professional career in journalism and public rela- tions, writing extensively about U.S. and worldwide merchant shipping, government maritime policy, the waterfront, shipbuilding, and ma- rine insurance, and other maritime matters. He specialized in maritime labor relations, particularly the con- tract negotiations involving the In- ternational Longshoremen's Asso- ciation and port employers in New

York and other harbors.

Prior to joining NYSA in 1974, he served for 14 years with the Journal of Commerce, which he joined in 1960 as a reporter on the shipping news desk. He was named maritime news editor in 1964, and in 1969 was appointed to a new position as edi- tor of maritime and transportation news, a post he held until he joined the NYSA.

The experimental windship Alcyone can maintain a constant cruising speed of 9 to 11 knots using its unique turbosail system alone during strong winds. 12 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News