24 Mar 2011

On trip around globe, solar-powered ship stops in Tahiti

4:59 pm on 24 March 2011

A ship powered by only solar energy and carrying four people has arrived in French Polynesia on a trip aimed at circumnavigating the globe.

The MS Turanor Planet Solar, had left Monaco in September and passed through the Panama Canal two months ago to reach the Pacific.

The ship, which is 35 metres long and weighs 95 tonnes, has 537 square metres of solar panels to power the engine.

The vessel was built by German and Swiss companies.