World's largest solar-powered vessel calls on Sri Lanka

The world's first and largest solar-powered vessel which is on a round-the-world voyage to promote the use of renewable energy is to reach Sri Lanka on Monday, government officials said. The Swiss-flagged Turanor Planet Solar circumnavigating the globe solely on solar power set sail from Monaco on September 27, 2010. Sri Lankan Environment Ministry said the ship is scheduled to arrive at the Magampura Harbor in the southern part of the country on Monday and due to reach the Colombo Harbor on November 16. The ship will call on all three main harbors in the island nation during its nine-day visit. The 60-ton vessel sailed through the Pacific before reaching Sri Lanka from Singapore. It will complete its journey sailing through the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean and come back to Monaco in May next year.