Energy Observer starts her 4th technical stopover
The first hydrogen vessel around the world has just started its winter technical stopover after 7 months of expedition to Northern Europe.
7 months, 16 stopovers, 11 countries, more than 7,500 nautical miles covered and more than 100,000 visitors welcomed in the exhibition village!
On March 15, 2019, Energy Observer left its home port for its 3rd expedition: Northern Europe.
On the agenda are numerous sailings to test, validate and make reliable technological innovations in the harshest conditions (those of the Baltic Sea and the Arctic Circle), including a new wind turbine thruster, two OceanWings® over 10 meters high, but also to meet pioneers and solutions for the planet, in the heart of these territories which, for the most part, have successfully made their energy and ecological transition.
Thus, the 2019 year was marked by many highlights (Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Tromso, Bodo, Alesund, Aberdeen, London, Dunkirk) whose navigation last August to Spitsbergen (Arctic) was completely autonomous, powered solely by renewable energies and hydrogen, without greenhouse gas emissions, fine particles and noise. A world first!
From a technical point of view, OceanWings® have proven their worth, particularly in Arctic navigation, optimizing the energy contribution of the wind (up to 42%) and saving the energy traditionally allocated to the boat’s propulsion, thus allowing hydrogen to be produced while sailing.
![A photo taken in a drone showing a boat moored at the foot of the house in the port of Antwerp.]()
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Energy Observer in Antwerp
![A boat is sailing with a windmill in the background and a fireboat throwing water at it]()
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Energy Observer in Amsterdam
![Ship sails past buildings in Hamburg]()
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Energy Observer in Hamburg
![Energy Observer sails along Amsterdam]()
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Energy Observer in Amsterdam
![Energy Observer sails in front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm]()
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Energy Observer in Stockholm
![Energy Observer with a Ferris wheel in the background]()
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Energy Observer in Helsinki
![Energy Observer walks along St. Petersburg by night with the roofs of monuments illuminated in the background]()
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Energy Observer in St-Petersburg
![Energy Observer passes underneath the tower bridge in london with the city in background]()
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Energy Observer in London
![UAV picture with Energy Observer moored and the city of Saint-Malo in the background]()
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Energy Observer in Saint-Malo
And now what?
The first step of this new wintering site was the dismantling of the two Oceanwings®. This delicate operation, which required several hours of work, took place prior to the catamaran’s exit from the water.
The next day (October 30, 2019), at the end of a 4h30 high-flying operation, which mobilized 10 people, a crane, a trailer, Energy Observer and her 30 tons successfully pulled out of the water.
Timelapse of Energy Observer's last trip in 2019, heading to the #Technical stopover! No respite for the crew and technical teams who have started the first optimisation work. Return to the water planned for the end of January 2020! #Innovation #Cleantech #smartgrid #Automation
The catamaran is now ready to begin its winter work. A construction site, lasting more than three months, during which it will undergo major transformations and optimizations before resuming its expedition in mid-February.