# Calypso to be saved. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 15, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893 "2005-01-15T18:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/1 "2005-01-15T18:58:04Z")
**Singapore. 8 January, 1986. 1500 hours.** A barge, in the process of being moved, hits Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s famous ship _Calypso_. Her hull perforated, _Calypso_ heeled over and sunk. She was taken to La Rochelle for repairs, but funding was not forthcoming. The ship lay mouldering ever since. _Calypso_ is my favourite ship. Such adventures I shared as I watched _The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau_! She’s a beautiful ship. Not very big, but big enough to partake in many research expiditions and voyages of discover. If I were to own a ship, it would be one like her. And then she sunk. And then she lay virtually forgotten. _Alcyon_ is a fine vessel, I’m sure; but I grew up watching _Calypso_. And now Carnival Cruises has come to the rescue. _Calypso_ will be restored at a shipyard in Grand Bahama, The Bahamas. Work is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The surprising thing is that the estimated cost is only $1.3 million. That’s a lot of money for you and me; but a fraction of the cost of, say, buying a new business jet. I’m surprised (and a little shocked) that a large company or a wealthy individual has not come sooner to rescue this historic vessel. Ted Turner was a big supporter of the Cousteau Society. I would have expected him to come through with a paltry million or so for the restoration (and to make a ‘Saving _Calypso_’ documentary for broadcast on his network). Loël Guinness owns _Calypso_, and certainly his company could afford the cost of restoration. Of course Carnival Corporation will profit from their generosity. I’m sure it’s not just a desire to preserve a ‘world-famous icon for marine research and environmental preservation’ (cite: _Calypso Log_, 4th Quarter, 2004). But if they want to generate some positive publicity for themselves, I’m glad that they chose to generate it by restoring _Calypso_. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/2 "2005-01-15T22:03:28Z")
The ship also inspired one of John Denver’s better songs. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/3 "2005-01-16T05:09:44Z")
Oh. I thought this was going to be about Lord Kitchner, Mighty Sparrow, Superior and The Relator. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/4 "2005-01-16T15:46:55Z")
Oh, well. I’m pleased by it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/5 "2005-01-16T18:04:51Z")
That _is_ rather cool. I didn’t even know it had been sunk, so this is a double eye-opener. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/6 "2005-01-16T18:17:21Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > That _is_ rather cool. I didn’t even know it had been sunk, so this is a double eye-opener. [Here’s a link to a message board with the story](http://lists.drogon.net/scuba-uk-ndg/archive/scuba-uk/1996/msg00126.html). BTW, the date in the OP should be 19 **96**. Sorry 'bout that. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/7 "2005-01-16T18:21:06Z")
Oh – the link says _Calypso_ is 66-feet in length. This is incorrect. IIRC, _Calypso_ is 42 metres. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/8 "2005-01-16T19:06:17Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calypso-to-be-saved/284893/9 "2005-01-16T21:35:15Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > Thanks! De nada. [Here’s an article](http://www.cruise-addicts.com/article.php?sid=535&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0) about the restoration plans. There are a couple of photos in _Calypso Log_ showing the mostly-submerged ship, but I haven’t been able to find any pics online.