Basel - A Swiss-built solar vessel arrived in New York on Tuesday on what the group behind the project said was the first sun-powered voyage across the Atlantic.
Dubbed "sun21", the catamaran reached North Cove Marina after a journey of six months and about 13 000km from Chipiona, Spain, to the Caribbean island of Martinique and then along the US East Coast to New York, the Switzerland-based group transatlantic21 said in a statement.
According to the organisation, the 14m-boat produced 2,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy during its voyage thanks to a roof of photovoltaic panels mounted above the twin-hulled design.
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The solar energy was used to power the boat's electric motors and any surplus was stored in batteries, allowing it to travel at a constant speed of 56 knots day or night, the group's website said.
It said the boat was able to store electricity generated during the day in its batteries, which it then used to travel at night as well.
The group said this showed the crossing can be made entirely without fuel, a claim which could not be independently verified.
"This proves that in our modern society it is indeed possible to travel the world efficiently and still safeguard the environment," said the boat's skipper, Michael Thonney. - Sapa-AP
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