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
Space saving physical/
chemical design
requires 90% less space
than biological systems.
Low installation costs
Simple, automatic
operation
Low operating and
maintenance costs
Reliable micro-
processor control
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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
Digital Wave Publishing