Solar-Powered Boat to Patrol Great Barrier Reef

          The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,600 miles. Patrolling this area seems to be a difficult task for Queensland's Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (DNPRSR) and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and so, the agencies are using solar power to help.
          Marine engineering consultants (MEC) have been requested from these agencies to help construct a 78.7 feet long-range Catamaran Patrol Vessel to work in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The catamaran is very eco-friendly as it is equipped with extensive solar panels, high R-value insulation, zoned air conditioning, as well as window blinds and shutters to reduce the impact of the Queensland sun.

World's Largest Solar Boat Arrives in NYC

       

       The world's largest solar boat is a catamaran known as Tȗranor (meaning the Master of the Sun), which is operated by the PlanetSolar Expedition. They've been roaming the oceans for a couple of years, already completing a record-breaking 18-month, 37,000-mile trip around the world last year. This year, the PlanetSolar crew is planning to track the Gulf Stream, all the way from Miami, Florida to Bergen, Norway, taking all types of water and air measurements to advance the scientific understanding of important ocean currents and its impact on the planet's climate. This week, they are, apparently, stopping in New York City and will be staying until June 20th.