Work on building the €10m 30m (98ft) solar-powered trimaran yacht PlanetSolar is progressing well at Knierim Shipyard in Kiel, Germany. The world’s largest vessel of her type is due to start a global circumnavigation in April 2011, with an estimated travelling time of 140 days. The yacht is due to be launched in January and will undertake a tour of European cities prior to the world trip. Next month, in advance of the float out, the two side hulls will have blocks of batteries with a total power rating of 1.3 megawatts installed.

The yacht is currently using the services of 30 of the yard’s 57 strong workforce and is being paid for by Immo Stroeher, a German investor. The world voyage will be used by the yacht’s designers and backers to emphasise that there are renewable energy solutions to the energy shortage.

PlanetSolar’s main hull will have a large 508m2 spread of photovoltaic solar panels. Her world trip will follow the east to west equatorial route starting by crossing the Atlantic, transiting the Panama Canal, Pacific and India oceans. The craft will stop in several major cities including New York and Hong Kong while en-route to promote the energy saving opportunities it represents. Because of the size of the main hull and the space available at Knierim Shipyard, it is being constructed in another shipyard close by.

On completion of the world voyage, Stroether is planning to use it as his personal yacht.

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