“Its name would be Heraclitus, after the philosopher of the cosmic ocean of change and of change, itself ever-changing.”
Our Mission
Our mission is to sail the world's oceans and great rivers to connect people and cultures and inspire a deeper understanding of the biosphere through the art of navigation.
Wade Davis opening speech, Heraclitus Exhibition; October Gallery, London 2001
From Wade Davis, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society:
“…we have to elevate our imagination to another sphere of life, the Ethnosphere, which is the sphere of all of our hopes. Because there is indeed a fire burning over the Earth, taking with it ancient cultures, visionary wisdom, plants, animals, languages, all the best of our human nature. Quelling that flame, reinventing the poetics of diversity, is the greatest challenge of the next era.
And the Heraclitus is a symbol of that hope. A moving ship, a moving platform of poets, artists, dreamers, scientists, exemplifying, by their own sincerity and intent, our own human quest, celebrating everything that we are.”
We explore both inner and outer horizons, investigating the interconnected hydrosphere, and listening to the modern and ancient traditions of maritime life in order to unearth and share the wisdom of our ethnosphere and biosphere.
By delving into the open horizons of our inner and outer worlds, we aim to advance the art of navigation while discovering and conveying our biosphere's wisdom through the Water World Web.
Our research vessel embarks on expeditions into diverse ecosystems and cultures, guided by the study of delicate biomic and transcultural balances. These balances are reflected in the synergy of the Heraclitus's construction materials, ferro-concrete, and crew dynamics, which require ingenuity, adaptability, a deep understanding of nature, and reliability.
Our research vessel is devoted to enhancing our knowledge of the ocean and its ecosystems. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, with oceans containing about 96.5% of all the biosphere’s water.
The Heraclitus experience cultivates modern seafarers. Our vessel serves as a mobile exemplar of cultural collaboration, demonstrating to people in ports worldwide that a small group can indeed make a difference.
Our diverse crew of explorers, artists, scientists, and students navigate the invaluable waters of our planet, sharing the journey with other species, many of which are critically endangered. Our home is the Heraclitus, an extraordinary floating artwork engineered and sculpted by members of Ecotechnics and the crew. Both onboard and in port, our crew engage in multidisciplinary and multicultural exchanges, essential for fostering knowledge, understanding, and cooperation.
Oceans and Rivers Heritage Project:
The wisdom of those deeply familiar with regional ecology, who once relied on the abundance of the sea and rivers, can provide valuable guidance for restoration efforts and inform the ongoing transition faced by numerous communities. This understanding can help forge a sustainable path towards the future.
The Heraclitus crew, with their distinct history and approach as seafarers, gain a unique perspective through interviewing fellow sea people.
Our mission focuses on documenting sustainable marine practices that not only safeguard the ocean's resources but also enable sea people to flourish. Central to our mission is a profound appreciation for the ocean and those who depend on it. We acknowledge the interdependence of all life and endeavour to create a world where sea people are cherished, empowered, and supported in their pursuit of building sustainable and equitable communities.
History
Since 1970, the Institute of Ecotechnics (IE) has catalyzed demonstration projects aimed at harmonising technology with the biosphere. IE co-founder, John Allen, suggested that an oceangoing ship was key to understanding the planet’s diversity. IE’s ecologists, artists and thinkers decided to build our own ship.
The distant history of oceangoing junks intrigued us. Allen had lived on a junk in the Hong Kong harbour. Their iconic beauty and, most importantly, their stability in high seas influenced the decision to design one. Junks are not built for speed, but a ‘slow boat’ offers possibilities of experiencing organic rhythms of wind and current.
Ferrocement is strong, durable and easy to patch in an emergency. We had little money but many volunteers, so the low cost of the materials and labour-intensive requirements were a perfect fit. The Heraclitus was designed and built
by volunteers of IE, with the collaboration of Theater of All Possibilities, and it was launched in 1975 from Oakland, California.
The ship has sailed over 270,000 nautical miles through six oceans, continuously exploring traditions of those who have lived on the sea, with the aim to create an onboard cadre of contemporary sea people. Crew members have participated in numerous projects and expeditions (see Expeditions). The last expedition, Lives and Legends of the Mediterranean Sea, documented coastal dwellers affected by ecological and cultural upheaval.
In 2012-13, Ecotechnics Maritime and Institute of Ecotechnics, UK, decided to completely rebuild and restore the vessel, to retain the magic and history of the original structure. The Heraclitus is now being rebuilt in drydock in Roses, Spain. Launch is scheduled for 2024.
“You cannot step in the same river twice.
Neither the river nor the human, is the same.” Heraclitus
Building the ship
Institute of Ecotechnics was established in the early ’70’s on Synergia Ranch, outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Establishing projects in biomes around the world, Ecotechnics noted the importance of stewardship of the sea.
With no previous experience in ship building, we researched ship design, engineering, construction, logistics, celestial navigation and sailing training, identifying experts to help fill gaps in knowledge. The construction of a sea-going vessel was an enticingly different venture, and rapid progress was made in the specification and design.
The original vision of a sea-going vessel designed to study the ocean biome was initiated by John Allen, one of the Institute’s directors. He articulated an early vision of the ship:
“a ship, probably a junk, but perhaps also a Baltic Trader-type vessel, which would enable fourteen or so people to live for long-term periods on the sea, adventuring along its coasts, visiting its many ports and exploring the great estuaries, rivers, reefs and islands. It would contain space for a scientific laboratory, a theatre, a library for research and writing and a work-shop; be capable of repairing itself, be of relatively shallow draught, fitting it for reef and river work, be primarily for sailing, but with an auxiliary engine for safety, and have a small territory for each crew-member, all of approximately equal size. The Command Room would have a sheltered helm, contain maps of the world ocean together with all essential equipment such as radio, depth-sounder, charts, etc., and provide sufficient space for full crew meetings when desirable. Its name would be Heraclitus, after the philosopher of the cosmic ocean of change and of change itself ever-changing.”
Ferrocement was chosen as a low-cost, labor-intensive, strong material.
Ecotechnics members formed a team doing design, engineering, construction, logistics and sailing education. John Allen, Freddy Dempster and Phil Hawes worked out the design and engineering; Margaret Augustine ran the construction site; Marie Harding kept an eye on finance, Kathelin Gray did logistics. Dempster, Augustine, Allen, Harding, Gregg Dugan, Gray, Robert Rio Hahn, Mary Evans and Warren LaForme were amongst the key people in this effort.
The group moved into a large three-storey redwood house in Berkeley, provided by Dempster’s mother. Theatre of All Possibilities’ bus transported the crew to the Fifth Avenue Marina in Oakland, where they squatted and built the ship, near where Jack London built his ship, the Snark.
To raise money and attract volunteers, the Ecotechnics team opened a café – The Junkman’s Palace –on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Alcatraz. It became a popular local eatery whose profits supplied most of the project’s operating costs.
Theatre of All Possibilities’ ensemble were part of the construction crew, and performed locally during the construction.
Work began with locating condemned houses to salvage wood and nails for ship construction scaffolding. The keel was laid in August 1974. Next came a frame of half-inch steel rebar, supporting a dozen sheets of wire netting to reinforce the cement which was sprayed into the net and troweled smooth. To maximise strength, the cement was kept wet and cured for a full month. On February 24, 1975 the ship, named after the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (who said ‘change is the only constant’, and ‘you never step in the same river twice’) was launched.