"Restoration work on the Calypso stopped in February 2009 due to non-payment of bills by Francine Cousteau. Piriou Naval Services of Concarneau are owed €850,000, of the estimated total €1,737,000, for work already done on the ship. The ship is now stored in one of the ship builder's hangars.
"As of March 2009, the Cousteau Society reports that Francine Cousteau is now directing the restoration of Calypso—-which has been brought to the Piriou shipyards in Brittany—-as an "ambassador for the seas and oceans." The restoration will be a complete refurbishment making Calypso a self-powered mobile "ambassador."
"In June 2010, the BBC reported that the Calypso was to be relaunched to mark the centenary of Jacques Cousteau's birth. According to one of the ship's former crew who visited the shipyard, the vessel was still being stored in several pieces in the same hangar as of 11 June 2010--the official date of the centenary--and is unlikely to sail any time soon."
Looks as though the Calypso may never be restored unless someone gets a better grip on the project.
5 comments:
I've been monitoring this progress since it started and am really disappointed with the circumstances. I know that donations have to be way down from what they were, but this is a REAL piece of history. A historic ICON in fact. They need to set up a special fund for this - put it on a donation option at ebay checkouts - people would donate millions ad the project would be completed. I can't put into words how much I'd like to see that ship in port in person. This is being treated as an afterthought from what I can tell - the Cousteau foundation NEEDS it's icon back on the water to again draw back the attention of all those who watched it sail for years and years. I believe it could make allthe difference in the world for them.
Thanks much for posting your comment! I suspect that mismanagement and mixing personal family matters with business is at the heart of this impasse. Perhaps it will have to be the next generation of Cousteau's or unrelated members of the foundation who will spearhead this restoration. I certainly hope that it will be successful in the end.
I agree this project should be completed. I too have followed the progress since it was started,it would serve well to draw attention to our oceans. I would love to board this ship when completed.
I've also been keeping tabs on this, and yes, it seems that while years at sea and a barge collision couldn't keep her down -- family squabbles and politics may.
I would *think* the French gov't would consider the Cousteau legacy to be at least as valuable as the cost of preserving/restoring its most enduring symbol - Calypso - but perhaps the French have priorities which allow them to forget one of France's most famous sons.
The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau in the 70's was an inspiration for so many in my generation, I still have my cousteau society t-shirt and belt buckle. It's too bad that it is not well organized and agree were the society to request donations they would be flooded with millions of dollars at least from the US. Those documetaries were inpart responsible for my love of sailing and interest in the sea and oceanography.
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