PORTRAIT served as the museum ’ s unchanging director from 1957 to 1988 . To this day , the place is sometimes called « the Cousteau Museum ».
It was Prince Rainier III who offered the Commander the opportunity to take over the Museum . Cousteau agreed without hesitation , moving to his famous study with large windows overlooking the sea . One of his great victories was an unprecedented increase in attendance . Back in those years , the museum was entertaining over a million visitors a year . These days these figures range from 600 000 to 700 000 people .
The princely family has always keenly followed Cousteau ’ s research . Even after the Commander ’ s death , the Monaco sovereign carries on his scientific heritage . In 2018 , Prince Albert II thus insisted that the museum open a section dedicated to the great explorers of Monaco . This exhibition is not entirely about Cousteau . It also reveals sea expeditions by Albert I , nicknamed « the prince of the oceans », and Prince Rainier III ’ s research in the field of marine ecology preservation .
The only thing the Monaco sovereigns did not manage to preserve sadly was the « Calypso »...
THE LEGENDARY VESSEL
The British Royal Navy minesweeper
was launched in the spring of 1942 .
Back then the boat did not stand out in any particular way . Little did it know what adventures and international fame were in store for it .
After the war , it was written off becoming a civilian boat , cruising as a ferry between Malta and the island of Gozo . It was renamed after the ancient Greek nymph from the Odyssey , Calypso . Purchased by Irish millionaire Thomas Loel Guinness , it was then handed over to Cousteau . The Commander was charged a symbolic lease of one franc a year . This is where the story of the most famous explorer-boat of the 20th century started .
Under Cousteau ’ s command , the minesweeper underwent complete refurbishment from a military into a research ship . It was then equipped with all kinds of bathyscaphes and video cameras . A special compartment for underwater observations and small helicopter deck were built onboard . The « Calypso » had an adventurous life trav- elling the world , entering hundreds of ports , constantly being rebuilt and repaired .
« At times , I seem to be indulging in my fatigue . Constant breakdowns and delays are discouraging , — Jacques-Yves Cousteau was saying . — Deep down , I appear to be feeling anger towards anything that would stand in the way of our dream . Any stop in a dry dock , any stocking up on food , seems to be an evil fate haunting us . At times , when my imagination is forsaking me , I seem to be hating my boat . <...> Even laughter and cheers of my team members are infuriating . I would then ask myself : who am I ? why am I doing this ? What for ? And only the blood in my veins reminds me that I am the sea . And that the sea is me ».
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT JACQUES- YVES COUSTEAU :
3 Jacques-Yves Cousteau was granted a number of prestigious international film awards : 3 Oscars and 1 Cannes Film Festival Golden Palm .
3 In 1947 , Cousteau set a world record for a 300-feet scuba dive .
3 Cousteau ’ s recognizable red knitted cap is not just his distinctive trait , but a necessity for any diver to avoid hypothermia .
3 Jacques-Yves Cousteau has released over 120 films in total .
3 A unique underwater monument to Jacques-Yves Cousteau was erected off the Alushta coast in Crimea , in 2010 .
3 A 1990 Cousteau Foundation petition banned mining in Antarctica with the aim of preserving the continent exclusively for scientists and tourists .
3 Cousteau ’ s underwater buildings have survived to this day .
3 Cousteau ’ s yellow bathyscaphe is installed at the Oceanographic Museum entrance in Monaco .
© HelloMonaco
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco was founded by Prince Albert I in 1889 .
THE OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM OF MONACO STANDS OUT LIKE NO OTHER . IT RISES ABOVE THE SEA AS IF GROWING OUT OF A ROCK .
In January 1996 , the « Calypso ’ s » adventures ended for good . The explorer sank after an absurd collision with a barge in Singapore Harbour . That was a serious blow to the Commander . The « Calypso » was later rescued from the depths , never to be restored . Cousteau died in his sleep one and a half years later , in June 1997 . There have always been talks about the « Calypso » being rebuilt and relaunched . Prince Albert II of Monaco once wanted to purchase the legendary ship . But it was not meant to be . The minesweeper is still awaiting its fate at a Turkish shipyard . It sadly looks less and less like the legendary « Calypso » that the world used to know for its adventures .
© depositphotos . com
Hello Monaco Winter 2020 – 2021 / 45 www . hellomonaco . com