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Paying a Port Call

December 16, 2018

The WHOI dock is homeport to WHOI-operated ships, but it also hosts visiting research vessels from other institutions. In June 1985, Alcyone, the research vessel of the late Jacques Cousteau, stopped over in Woods Hole shortly after it had just been launched. The famed ocean explorer met with John Steele, WHOI’s director at the time and several scientists during his brief visit. Alcyone‘s sillhouette is unmistakable because of its turbosails. Two computer-controlled, hollow metal stacks act as airfoils, propelling the ship when there is wind. (Photo by Ellen Levy, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)