With the world facing the threat of a complete climate breakdown, humanity’s transition to green energy sources is more important than ever. To push the message that sustainable development is possible, a team from Switzerland has made port in Kaohsiung aboard a very special kind of ship.
The Swiss experimental ship MS Porrima has arrived at Kaohsiung Harbor from Osaka, Japan. The ship is part of the TEAM EXPO 2025 Co-Creation Challenge.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai says that the ship embodies the concepts of green energy and sustainability, and has become a spokesperson for the oceans.
MS Porrima is the largest experimental ship powered by solar energy in the world. The 36-meter-long vessel incorporates a range of new technologies besides solar cells - it also generates power from the wind and hydrogen. It aims to share the wonders of the oceans with coastal communities during its journeys.
Mayor Chen says that new technologies tested on the vessel can help countries reach their net-zero emission goals.
MS Porrima is named after the ancient Roman goddess of the future and a patron of pregnant women. Its operators hope that the spirit of Porrima will protect the Earth’s future generations.
The co-founder and honorary chairman of Acer, Stan Shih, says he hopes the experiments carried out by the vessel will prove useful.
MS Porrima’s current expedition, called the Blue Odyssey, began on December 18 in Osaka, Japan. The next destination after Kaohsiung will be Dubai, but the ship will continue visiting international ports along the shores of three of the world’s oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean, highlighting issues of ocean conservation.