Since 2007, Calypso has occupied a hangar of the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau to be restored. After a start of work that saw part of the boat dismantled, the yard is frozen following a dispute between the owner and the work done. The boat seemed to be abandoned until yesterday, Thursday, January 7, 2016, the day the Cousteau Foundation announced a new start for the boat.
The war of the communiqués
Will Calypso sail again? This is what the Cousteau team says on its website. But apart from this press release, nothing else is known. Even the Piriou shipyard, whose hangars still house the famous boat, admits (in another press release) via its general manager Vincent Faujour: "we discover on the foundation's website the statements made by Francine Cousteau and her intention to withdraw the ship during the first quarter of 2016."
An announcement effect?
Are we once again faced with an announcement effect from the Cousteau Foundation or is it a real will on their part. Indeed, the press release that indicates that Calypso is going to sail again is quite hollow. We learn that in order to save the boat: "Finally, Equipe Cousteau has succeeded in bringing together generous and highly motivated international patrons, whose objectives are compatible with those of Equipe Cousteau Who are they? What resources do they have?
"By the end of the first quarter of 2016, Calypso will be able to leave the shipyards of Concarneau and begin her new life." WHERE TO? To turn her into a museum? To sail? Finally, in a new press release (another one!) dated January 7, we learn that "Francine Cousteau, President of Ãquipe Cousteau, has confirmed Patrice Quesnel as coordinator of the program to take Calypso out of the Concarneau shipyard." This sailor knows the subject well since he has been seconding Captain Cousteau for many years.
We have of course questioned the Cousteau Foundation, which refuses to answer our questions, hiding behind their press releases. We have the right to question the sincerity of these declarations, given the number of unfulfilled declarations for many years. Ãeuros starting with last yearâeuros¦
The court of Rennes called to decide
The year 2015 has indeed seen legal wrangling between the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau, which hosts the famous boat, and the Cousteau Foundation. The first claiming to be paid for the work done (300,000 euros), the second not being in agreement with the work done. The courts ruled in early 2015: The Court of Appeal of Rennes had given the Cousteau Foundation 2 months to remove Calypso from Piriou's buildings in Concarneau, that is, March 12, 2015.
What has happened since these 10 months? Radio silenceâeuros¦ Today, the shipyard announces in a press release "The financial part of the sentence pronounced by this ruling has been executed: last December, the Foundation finally settled the sums due to Piriou Naval Services." But the boat is still in the shedâeuros¦
For Calypso to sail again!
We are wholeheartedly in favor of the emblematic ship Calypso, this former minesweeper that hosted many of Captain Cousteau's adventures, sailing again. But given the current state of the boat, which looks more like a skeleton than a minesweeper, given the 15 years that have just passed with a first period in La Rochelle and then this dismantling in Concarneau, given the numerous communications from Francine Cousteau on the resumption of workâeuros¦ we are entitled to doubt the feasibility of this new announcementâeuros¦
