See full version: Pump that removes trash from ocean
Attend a Dock Talk with COA and our partners to learn more about our Marina Trash Skimmers!
Join us this summer to get up close and personal with the skimmers to learn how they work, and how we can make changes to prevent marine debris. more
Working for a Clean, Healthy Ocean that is Accessible to All
Newport, RI
Perrotti Park in Newport on 8/3, 8/31 at 4pm. Sign up on our Events page. more
Overview of active efforts here
WIRED magazine described Boyan Slat’s invention as, “an enormous lint trap,” for the ocean. It’s basically a net attached to a massive array of floating booms that collects debris from the surface down to 3 meters/9 feet. Ships periodically come by and gather the collected trash, playing the role of marine garbage trucks.
The WasteShark is a marine drone that “eats” garbage on the surface. It’s designed to be a first line of defence in areas where human civilization meets the water – harbors, ports, marinas and urban waterways. Each WasteShark is 1.5m by 1.1m/5 feet by 3.5 feet and can collect up to 159kg/352lbs of trash. The battery lasts up to 16 hours when piloted with a remote control. It can also operate autonomously for up to 8 hours within a predetermined area using laser imaging technology to avoid objects. more
Seabins collect floating debris, fuel and oil from marinas and other areas prone to pollution. As the video below shows, Seabins use a submerged pump to suck in water from the surface and filter it through a catch bag. Any floating debris 2 mm or larger is captured and retained in the bag.
This technology, created by Clearwater Mills, LLC., is a water wheel that is placed at the end of a river or stream. Trash is funneled into the interceptor by the river’s currents. A conveyor belt powered by solar panels collects the trash and takes it up to a contained floating barge. The conveyor belt moves very slowly so that any wildlife near the machine isn’t harmed or trapped. Once the trash reaches this barge, it’s incinerated and converted into electricity.
here
This frightening amount of trash affects ocean life from seabirds to marine mammals. In fact, plastics have been found in more that 60 percent of all seabirds and in 100 percent of turtle species –– they mistake this trash for food and try to eat it, causing life-threatening problems.
However, plastic often ends up in the ocean, largely impacting marine ecosystems.
Boyan Slat, CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, has invented a prototype that aims to target the gyre at the heart of the North Pacific Ocean. Also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, this gyre is a concentration of trash located between Hawaii and California that’s about three times the size of France. This is the first system to be trialed and utilized in this area of the ocean.
Although plastic materials are very durable and efficient for manufacturers to produce, they’re causing a long-term problem for the oceans’ ecosystems. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this is how long it takes for man-made products to biodegrade in the ocean:
This national symbol is used to show boaters where onshore pumpout services are located. You’ll need to know this symbol if you use a portable toilet or Type III MSD (holding tank) on your boat. here
Anyone that spends a day on a boat with a head has the dubious pleasure of using the “onboard facilities.” Whether you are on a 16’ outboard or a 40’ ketch, the "call of nature" is a regular part of our boating experience. So what's the big deal about using the water as a big bathroom?
The primary environmental concern with your sewage is not the urine (which is basically sterile) , but the feces. Human feces contains bacteria, pathogens, and nutrients. The idea behind federal regulations concerning sewage on boats is to keep untreated sewage out of our inland and coastal waters, so we don’t have to swim in it or drink it. Read on for the regulatory details.
As with most Coast Guard Certified equipment, there are different classifications to cover most every marine application.
In most inland and coastal waters, boats with installed toilets are required to have a sanitation system on board in order to control pollution. Standards have been set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and regulations have been Issued by the Coast Guard, covering the certification and use of Marine Sanitation Devices. Sanitation systems consist of an installed head (toilet), a waste-treating device (MSD), and/or a holding tank.