After two weeks of final tests in the Pacific, the Ocean Cleanup has received the green light to proceed to the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch and start cleaning plastics.
Garbage Patch and start cleaning plastics.
The Pacific Trials were a
crucial step for the organization in verifying the system’s endurance and
performance in real life conditions.
crucial step for the organization in verifying the system’s endurance and
performance in real life conditions.
The System 001 consists of
a 600-meter-long U-shaped floating barrier with a three-meter skirt attached
below. It is designed to be propelled by wind and waves, allowing it to
passively catch and concentrate plastic debris in front of it.
a 600-meter-long U-shaped floating barrier with a three-meter skirt attached
below. It is designed to be propelled by wind and waves, allowing it to
passively catch and concentrate plastic debris in front of it.
During the trials the
system’s U-shape installation was carried out, and the system attained
sufficient speed through water, which means that it moved faster than the
plastic in order to capture it.
system’s U-shape installation was carried out, and the system attained
sufficient speed through water, which means that it moved faster than the
plastic in order to capture it.
It also proved its ability
to reorient when wind and wave direction changed and attained effective span in
steady state, which is crucial for the system to capture and retain plastic.
to reorient when wind and wave direction changed and attained effective span in
steady state, which is crucial for the system to capture and retain plastic.
Finally, no significant
damage was detected on the system by the end of the test, paving the way for
the system to resume its voyage to its final destination.
damage was detected on the system by the end of the test, paving the way for
the system to resume its voyage to its final destination.
Maersk Supply Service‘s
Maersk Launcher will now tow the System 001 further out into
the Pacific to begin the big cleanup.
Maersk Launcher will now tow the System 001 further out into
the Pacific to begin the big cleanup.
World Maritime News.
