Ocean Cleanup Discussion - theoceancleanup.com

williamtl

williamtl

.
Jun 1, 2015
217
Macgregor 26d Trailer Estates, Fl
I saw this very interesting concept about to become reality and thought a discussion here would be warranted. Cleaning up the oceans and waterways is something we should all be contributing to, following, advocating for, etc.

The linked company (I have no stake or financial link to it) appears to have a workable idea, that may become self sustaining financially. I see some challenges, but want to know what others see first.

Exciting to think about so, what are your hopes, dreams, fears for this project?
 
williamtl

williamtl

.
Jun 1, 2015
217
Macgregor 26d Trailer Estates, Fl
I’m guessing from their site it will be the first deployment, but no where near enough to deliver the 50% in 5 years.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

.
Sep 25, 2008
7,668
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Anyone familiar with standard 1970's oil boom technology will recognize this as a means of containment. Deploying it in the ocean is likely to result in more scrap plastic after the first storm destroys it. If anyone is looking for investment opportunities, buying a bridge might be a better bet.
 
  • Like
Likes: Kings Gambit and Pearson 39-II
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

.
Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Good on the intent of this, but the majority of this pollution is throughout the water column, not just in the first 10 feet of depth. I wish them luck.

The human "throwaway" factor needs to be addressed too. I see a lot of average Joes who have absolutely no clue as to their plastic consumption and proper disposal methods, both here in AZ and in Mexico.
 
williamtl

williamtl

.
Jun 1, 2015
217
Macgregor 26d Trailer Estates, Fl
My first thought was hazard to nav. Seems they have addressed this on the technology page:

No heavily-trafficked shipping routes traverse the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, so the chances of a vessel coming across an ocean cleanup system are minimal. On average only 5 vessels can be found in an area twice the size of Texas.

But, in the event that a vessel does pass through the patch, we have implemented extensive measures to ensure the safety of both vessels and our cleanup systems. Each system will be equipped with lanterns, radar reflectors, navigational signals, GPS and anti-collision beacons.

The AIS will continuously broadcast the location of the systems to passing vessels and the GPS will track the location of our systems, should they veer out of the patch. The US Coast Guard will chart the area as a special operations zone and will issue a Notice to Mariners concerning the presence of our systems.
 
williamtl

williamtl

.
Jun 1, 2015
217
Macgregor 26d Trailer Estates, Fl
Don S/V ILLusion said:
Anyone familiar with standard 1970's oil boom technology will recognize this as a means of containment. Deploying it in the ocean is likely to result in more scrap plastic after the first storm destroys it.
Click to expand
This is the biggest unknown to me so far, how will it handle a storm?

I assume the “garbage trucks” will also do routine maintenance. However, only emptying every quarter seems to ignore what the storms will do to it.

Since it is not a huge sailing destination, to my knowledge, I don’t know what the storms are like. It should handle big waves provided they don’t break (9 meter depth and fairly low profile). If they are breaking, seems like it would just roll it up.

The craziness of a typhoon or hurricane would probably tie it in knots.

It will be interesting to watch. I would guess one of their 273 tests had some type of storm.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,455
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
As I all interesting ideas it is in the baking of the cake that theory is proven or scraped.
They have funds for the test. I think it is multiple units that is planned.
It will be all based on funding.
And funding likely will be on who they can persuade or embarrass.
 
shemandr

shemandr

.
Jan 1, 2006
7,936
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
I applaud the effort, the innovation and the action. Yes the supply side needs action but I've read that much of the ocean plastic problem comes from poor nations who have trouble managing their other problems and few monies to apply to the plastic problem. But, I don't think poverty is an excuse to throw trash into the sea.
I've been around long enough to remember when environmental groups complained that plastic never breaks down. So formula's were altered so that the plastic would break down. Now we learn that the breakdown products may be worse than the original. This is where good science is needed. Which is it? Do we want unsightly but less damaging to the oceans plastic or more esthetic but worse for the oceans plastic?
I used to walk the Sound beaches here looking for cold stunned turtles in the fall. I would carry a trash bag and pick up beach trash - largely plastic and largely juice containers - until I couldn't carry anymore. The next time I'd walk the beach it was just as bad. Unsightly but environmentally dangerous to the oceans? I don't know because rhetoric has surpassed science.
 
J

JimInPB

.
Aug 22, 2017
1,609
Hunter 26.5 West Palm Beach
Back in the late 1980's, I remember reading a paper that was generated by a research vessel out of Woods Hole. I think it was the SSV Corwith Cramer. The vessel had been on a mission to study plastic pollution in the oceans. I remember that the most surprising conclusion in the paper was that the vast majority of plastic in the ocean was in the form of raw resin pellets, not finished goods. We see a lot of media coverage that complains about the finished plastic products in the ocean, but I never see anything about the raw industrial losses. This remuneration system seems to ignore the raw pellets equally well.
 
  • Like
Likes: Will Gilmore
Gunni

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
The 2012 Atlantic Ocean plastics survey of Matt Rutherford and Nicole Trenholm - out of Annapolis:
 
  • Like
Likes: Brian D
J

JimInPB

.
Aug 22, 2017
1,609
Hunter 26.5 West Palm Beach
That video sounds like quite a sales pitch for the PLA & PHA family of plastics. I'm not saying that those materials should or should not be put into use. I'm just saying that his chosen conclusion may or may not not be the best possible answer. I don't see enough real information

I didn't hear him say much about him collecting a lot of raw data himself, which makes it kind of hard for me to consider this a valid survey.

Statements like “they think that there is 64,000 pieces per square mile in these regions” sound alarming if true, but I didn’t hear a lot of supporting data. Someone thinking that there is a certain amount of something is not the same as someone taking empirical measurements. I like to have real numbers to work with & I like the raw data to be source traceable.

In my opinion, this bears further investigation.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes: Will Gilmore
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

.
Sep 25, 2008
7,668
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
williamtl said:
This is the biggest unknown to me so far, how will it handle a storm?

I assume the “garbage trucks” will also do routine maintenance. However, only emptying every quarter seems to ignore what the storms will do to it.

Since it is not a huge sailing destination, to my knowledge, I don’t know what the storms are like. It should handle big waves provided they don’t break (9 meter depth and fairly low profile). If they are breaking, seems like it would just roll it up.

The craziness of a typhoon or hurricane would probably tie it in knots.

It will be interesting to watch. I would guess one of their 273 tests had some type of storm.
Click to expand
Typical oil containment boom for ocean conditions is designed with a similar skirt. The bigger the skirt - the more damage done to it in a storm. And even in a small current as would be created in any storm, efficacy plummets. This is no different as far as I can see.
 
rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,890
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes: Will Gilmore
williamtl

williamtl

.
Jun 1, 2015
217
Macgregor 26d Trailer Estates, Fl
A quick update I saw on the deployed unit said it was not containing the garbage. It would scoop it, but then the garbage would flow out again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom