The legendary ship that explored the oceans for just one franc a year
In short: Once a wartime minesweeper, the RV Calypso became the most famous vessel in oceanography. Under Jacques Cousteau, it transformed from a wooden-hulled war machine into a floating laboratory, carrying advanced submersibles and even a helicopter pad to uncover the secrets of the deep.
The vessel's journey began in the United States, where it was laid down on 12 August 1941 as BYMS-26. Built of Oregon pine by the Ballard Marine Railway Company, it was intended for the US Navy but was loaned to the British Royal Navy under the lend-lease program. By February 1943, it was commissioned as HMS J-826, serving actively in the Mediterranean Sea based in Malta. The vessel was later reclassified as BYMS-2026 in 1944. After the war ended, the ship was decommissioned in July 1946 and eventually returned to the US Navy in 1947.
In July 1950, the British millionaire Thomas Loel Guinness purchased the ship and leased it to Jacques Cousteau for a symbolic annual fee of just one franc. This arrangement came with two strict conditions: Cousteau could never request financial assistance from Guinness, and Guinness's identity as the owner had to remain a secret. Under Cousteau's direction, the ship was heavily modified for research, featuring a see-through 'nose' and an observation chamber positioned 3 metres below the waterline. The ship's specialized equipment included two-person mini submarines and underwater scooters. It even featured a dedicated pad for a helicopter.
Despite its storied history, the Calypso's later years were marked by tragedy and legal strife. The ship sank in Singapore on 8 January 1996 after being rammed by a barge. Subsequent attempts at restoration were hampered by a legal dispute between Cousteau's widow, Francine Cousteau, and the grandson of the original owner. While work began in Concarneau in 2007, funding issues and a 2017 fire near Istanbul left the vessel's future uncertain. The Cousteau Society eventually acquired the ship for only one euro in 2006. However, the shipyard Piriou later claimed they were owed €850,000 for unfinished work.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: RV Calypso
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