A famed Russian voyager and explorer is set to spend six months alone at sea in a solar-powered boat currently being built in the UAE.
Fedor Konyukhov, 71, will sail across three oceans on the Nova catamaran to help raise awareness about sustainable travel and to conduct research on plastic pollution.
The vessel, painted in a striking green colour and with solar panels along its hulls and deck, was one of the star attractions at the Dubai International Boat Show, which concluded on Sunday.
“He will be travelling from Chile towards the end of this year all the way to Australia,” said his son Oscar, who was representing him at the boat show.
It’s not cheap to change to electric-powered boats but there are savings to be made in the long term when you factor in maintenance
Keith Oliver,
Trident Engineering and Marine
“Then he will sail up towards Antigua and into the Canary Islands.
“We are planning on covering all three of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.”
Mr Konyukhov is no stranger to adventure, having circumnavigated the globe five times, including in an aerostat balloon.
He has also crossed the Atlantic Ocean 15 times in total, one of which was in a rowing boat in 2002.
If that was not enough, the Russian explorer has also conquered the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, on two separate occasions.
That said, the journey on the Nova will be unique, as the vessel is completely solar powered with no back-up generators in case anything should go awry.
“The boat will have an automatic identification system, which is like a radar, so others can see where you are and keep tabs on it,” Oscar Konyukhov said.
Most of the journey will be spent inside one of two berths in the hulls on either side of the boat — one to sleep in and the other acting as a pantry and storage.
“Most of the time he won’t be on deck because it will get wet and slippy when you are in the ocean so he will largely be below deck,” the explorer's son added.
“He will have an emergency sail to use if he needs it and a phone to reach others, as well as the AIS.”
Green mission
Mr Konyukhov's voyage is not only about adventure: During its round-the-world trip, the vessel, which measures 11.25 metres by 8 metres, will also be carrying out an important scientific role.
Each day, a sample of water from the ocean will be taken and sent to an oceanographic institute to study microplastic levels.
The boat, which will cost in the region of $700,000, is being built in Dubai by Trident Engineering and Marine. Before it sets sail on its six-month mission, it will be tested in a series of speed trials in Dubai waters.
A key part of the project is showcasing the viability of sustainable travel in the boating industry, which is one of the key themes of this year’s boat show in Dubai.
“It’s as much a commercial showcase as it is carrying out scientific research,” said Keith Oliver, director of Trident.
“We brought it here to the show because we wanted to show people this is what can be done when you convert to more sustainable means of travel.
“The initiatives are going to come to ensure the industry changes but you still have an awful lot of diesel and petrol-powered boats right now.”
The Nova is designed to be completely sustainable and, with a keen eye towards reducing carbon footprints, the vessel will leave no trace of having been on the ocean at all, he said.
“One of the issues when it comes to converting is that is still seen as extremely expensive,” said Mr Olivier.
“It’s not cheap to change to electric-powered boats but there are savings to be made in the long term when you factor in maintenance.
“A lot of the charter companies don’t have the capital at the moment to go all green but change is coming.”
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at the Gabba
Australia 312-1
Warner 151 not out, Burns 97, Labuschagne 55 not out
Pakistan 240
Shafiq 76, Starc 4-52
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Napoleon
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Results
International 4, United States 1
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (US) beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann (International) 4 and 3.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im (International) beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (US) 2 up.
Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An (International) beat Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau (US) 2 and 1.
Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan (International) beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed (US) 1 up.
Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen (International) beat Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland (US) 4 and 3.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Ponti
Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 3
Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90
Manchester United 3
Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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