After France, then Italy, now Turkeyâeuros¦
Finally Calypso will be restored in Istanbul, as indicated by the Cousteau Society on their website " We have considered several sites in the Mediterranean. Finally it is in countries of the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea (Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, Lebanonâeuros¦) that we can still find the traditional technology of wooden shipbuilding. The choice was made to a specialist in Istanbul who is associated with an American company."
One can legitimately ask oneself the question of the choice of a foreign shipyard when France has many specialized shipyards. At the beginning, it was the Piriou shipyard âeuros French shipyard âeuros that had been chosen to do the work. So finally, is the traditional expertise of the Turkish yard really what decided the association or is it a story of costs (more attractive no doubt) that weighed in the balance?
Commander Patrice Quesnel, commander of the ship Alcyone (another Cousteau Society vessel) is in charge of Calypso's outing program. And he will be accompanied by the Italian naval engineer Dr. Marco Cobau, who will supervise the renovation at the Turkish shipyard.
According to Equipe Cousteau, it will take two years to get Calypso back on its feet.
What work on Calypso?
According to the Cousteau Society, the renovation must follow many rules so that the renovated ship is as close as possible to the old oceanographic vessel. Thus, the infrastructure, equipment and various objects on board will be kept, except for some navigation equipment that will be replaced for more modernity and safety on board. The boat will also be equipped with new engines purchased in 2009 âeuros more efficient and environmentally friendly âeuros as indicated by the Cousteau Society.
On board, emblematic equipment have marked the memories, like the underwater discoveries. Thus, we will find the "Denise", a yellow diving saucer which will also be renovated.
Joining Turkey
To reach the Turkish shipyard where she will be renovated, Calypso must be rigged on a cargo ship. A delicate maneuver since only the ship's frame remains, inseparable from her cradle. Protected by a blue tarpaulin, the former minesweeper will be loaded on the cargo ship Abis Dusavik, which docked this March 14 in Concarneau. She is 115 m long (maximum authorized length in the small Finisterian town) and is equipped with 2 big cranes of 150 tons each, equipped with 2 spreaders wider than Calypso to protect the hull.
What will become of Calypso?
The future of Calypso remains quite unclearâ?¦ Francine Cousteau reveals very little, except that she will be refloating. "When Calypso returns to the Mediterranean, she will be seaworthy and powered by her own engines, as Captain Cousteau wished she said on January 6.
But for what purpose? Equipe Cousteau talks about educational missions, scientific missions, indicates that the boat will sail, but not too muchâ?¦ The idea of the association is also to "preserve a piece of history and safeguard an icon known to the whole world" but also "to make its history known to the younger generation" and to entrust "to this famous ship the opportunity to continue to serve in educating the public about the importance of ecosystem protection."
Calypso will also serve as a platform for important events around the world, according to Equipe Cousteau. So finally, what will Calypso become? Will she be only a ceremonial ship, used for large events or will she set out to conquer the oceans for scientific missions, returning to her job of more than 70 years ago.
The "mysterious" patrons who provided the funds for the renovation of the boat must surely have agreed on a destiny for the boat. And if not for the love of the gesture, then why remain in the shadow?
We are not safe from a reversal of fortune, Equipe Cousteau being quite accustomed to leading us on a boatâeuros¦ The continuation in the next episodeâeuros¦
