The ship is powered by the first wave in the world

Kenichi Horie, a Japanese, yesterday launched a raft advertised to serve the world's first cross-sea voyage with a " powered by wave " ship. The Suntory Mermaid II is made entirely of aluminum programmed for a nearly 6,000 km trip from Hawaii to the Kii Peninsula, west of Japan next year.

"Just like the wind, the wave is an endless source of energy. It is suitable for a long journey , " said the 68-year-old man, after driving a ship more than 9 meters long on a Setouchi Inland Sea .

"The Setouchi Sea is as calm as ever but the boat moves quite well. I can expect the results to be better when I go to the big sea , " he said.

This 3-ton (raft) ship has two balance plates parallel to the nose, which transforms the movement of the waves into rear thrusts like dolphins to push the ship forward. The ship will also carry an engine and a sail for emergency use.

Horie is expected to depart from Honolulu in mid-March 2008 and can go at an average speed of 5.6 km per hour, for the trans-Pacific journey in 2.5 months.

Horie was famous in the press in 1962 when he made a 94-day solo trip across the Pacific Ocean on a light boat Mernaid, without a passport or money. Since then, he has made many voyages alone, including a round-the-world trip from East to West in 1974 and another from North to South in 1978.

Horie on a ship powered by waves.(Photo: AFP)

In 1996, he set a world record when he became the fastest transpacific on a solar powered boat, when he seamlessly traveled 16,000 km from Salina (Ecuador) to Tokyo, in 148 day.

The latest boat is equipped with solar panels to supply power to navigation devices, such as radar and appliances such as ovens. His latest vacation without a break around the world lasts from October 2004 to June 2005.

"In two decades, on average, I make a long trip every 3 years. So after this wave energy project, I will plan another trip in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the journey. submit 'alone on the Pacific Ocean' , he said.

T. An