Energy Observer : First transat fully autonomous in energy

The Energy Observer catamaran is the first energy autonomous vessel, with zero emissions, zero fine particles emissions and zero noise, producing its own hydrogen from sea water thanks to renewable energies. This ship of the future is already sailing around the world with more than 19,000 nautical miles logged... and the catamaran has now just covered more than 5,000 miles non-stop, sailing from Saint-Malo in Brittany to Fort-de-France, Martinique, non-stop, as obliged by the current lockdown.

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Published 04/05/2020

By Emmanuel van Deth

Issue: 171

Published: may / june 2020

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Lacking any possible relief and any idea as to when the route initially planned would be able to take place, the crew managed to get remote re-victualling done in the Canaries and then set a course for Martinique. The technologies on board this floating laboratory seem to have proved their performance and reliability, as Energy Observer maintained an average speed of over 6 knots - despite adverse weather conditions at the start of the trip, which became more favorable after passing Cape Verde. The 202 m² (2,175 sq ft) of latest-generation solar panels combined with two automatic propulsion wings and new variable-pitch propellers form a high-performance hybrid combo for this type of transoceanic route. The hydrogen system has made it possible to compensate for intermittent sun or wind by ensuring regular performance whatever the conditions, and without dragging excessive weight.