Can we Save our Oceans?

Summary

This video explores five innovative technologies combating ocean plastic pollution. The Manta, a 56-meter boat, collects and converts waste into electricity. The 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer, a smaller vessel, efficiently removes debris in high-density areas. The Ocean Cleanup's System 002, nicknamed Jenny, aims to clean vast areas of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Seabin V5, installed in marinas, collects floating debris within a 50-meter radius. Lastly, the Pacific Garbage Screening project, now focused on rivers with CollectiX boats and HiveX platforms, prevents plastic from entering oceans, showcasing a multifaceted approach to ocean cleanup.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Millions of tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean annually, with a prediction that by 2050, there will be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans.
• 🚢 'The Manta' is a 56-meter sailing boat designed to collect and process waste at sea, equipped with four collection systems and capable of collecting up to 3 tonnes of waste per hour.
• 🔄 The Manta features a waste-to-energy conversion unit that turns collected waste into electricity, powering the boat's electrical equipment without emitting pollutants.
• 🛥️ The 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer is a smaller, 7-meter long vessel that has helped collect over 7000 tonnes of trash, using retractable arms to gather debris.
• 🏝️ 4Ocean has expanded its cleanup services to include beach cleaning with the BeBot, a robot designed to mechanically remove plastic waste and other debris from beaches.
• 🌐 The Ocean Cleanup project aims to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040, starting with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and using a 600-meter System 002 device nicknamed Jenny.
• 🚀 The Interceptor, an automated debris extraction system by The Ocean Cleanup, operates in the world's top polluting rivers, capable of extracting up to 100 tonnes of trash per day.
• 🗑️ Seabin V5, dubbed as 'garbage cans of the ocean,' is installed in marinas and ports to collect marine debris within a 50-meter radius, with a water pump displacing 25,000 liters per hour.
• 🌍 Over 1100 Seabin units are active in 53 countries, capturing more than 3 tonnes of garbage daily, highlighting a global effort to combat ocean plastic pollution.
• 🚧 The Pacific Garbage Screening project, initially a stationary platform idea, has evolved into smaller garbage collection boats named CollectiX and a river platform named HiveX, focusing on waste collection and source tracing.

Q & A

What is the alarming prediction about plastic waste in the oceans by 2050?

By 2050, there is a prediction that there will be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans if the current rate of plastic pollution continues.

What is the Manta and how does it help in cleaning the oceans?

The Manta is a 56-meter sailing boat designed to collect and process waste at sea. It is equipped with four collection systems and can collect both floating macro-waste and smaller debris. It also has a waste-to-energy conversion unit to turn collected waste into electricity.

How much waste can the Manta collect per hour?

The Manta is capable of collecting up to 3 tonnes of waste per hour.

What is unique about the power supply of the Manta?

The Manta is powered by renewable energy sources, including two wind turbines and two hydro-generators, allowing it to operate without using fossil fuels and minimizing its environmental footprint.

What is the 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer and how does it function?

The 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer is a 7-meter long vessel with retractable arms that can extend up to 4 meters. It collects plastic and other debris, which are then brought towards the front of the skimmer by a conveyor belt into a large super sack.

How much trash has 4Ocean collected from the oceans so far?

4Ocean has helped collect more than 7000 tonnes of trash from the oceans with the help of the 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer.

What is The Ocean Cleanup project and what is its goal?

The Ocean Cleanup project aims to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040. It started with a device called System 001 in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and has since developed a scaled-up version called System 002, nicknamed Jenny.

How does the Seabin project prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean?

Seabin V5 is a device installed in marinas, ports, and yacht clubs that moves up and down with the tide, collecting marine debris within a 50-meter radius. It sucks in water from the surface, which passes through a catch bag inside the Seabin, trapping litter and debris.

What is the Pacific Garbage Screening project and what was its initial design?

The Pacific Garbage Screening project was initially designed to be a giant floating platform system that screens and extracts plastic particles from the ocean. It was a 400-meter-wide structure with teeth-like grills reaching 35 meters deep into the water.

What is the CollectiX boat and how does it contribute to waste collection?

The CollectiX boat is a smaller garbage collection boat that aims to take out waste and determine its source. Despite its small size, it can handle up to 20 tonnes of ocean garbage every day, with a conveyor ramp that brings the garbage into the boat.

What is HiveX and how does it plan to reduce plastic pollution in rivers?

HiveX is a smaller version of the original stationary platform idea for rivers, designed to discharge 80% of the plastic flowing into it and collect up to 5 tons of plastic per day without affecting shipping traffic or the marine ecosystem.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Innovative Ocean Cleanup Technologies

The video script discusses the alarming issue of plastic pollution in the oceans, with a prediction that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans if current trends continue. It introduces various innovative technologies designed to combat this problem. The Manta, a 56-meter sailing boat, is highlighted for its ability to collect and process waste simultaneously at sea, with a waste-to-energy conversion unit that powers the boat's electrical equipment. The script also mentions the construction timeline and the Manta's deployment in polluted waterways. Additionally, it briefly introduces other technologies like the 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer, which is efficient in high-density areas, and The Ocean Cleanup project, which aims to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040, starting with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

05:04

🚢 The Ocean Cleanup's Innovative Approach

This section delves into The Ocean Cleanup project's strategy to tackle ocean plastic waste. It details the project's initial deployment of System 001 and its subsequent upgrade to System 002, nicknamed Jenny, which is capable of cleaning an area equivalent to 10 football fields every hour. The project's broader goal is to deploy a fleet of 60 devices to remove half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch's plastic within five years. The script also discusses the Interceptor, an automated debris extraction system designed for the world's top polluting rivers, which can extract up to 100 tonnes of trash per day. The Ocean Cleanup's comprehensive approach addresses plastic pollution from the source to the ocean.

10:06

🗑️ Effective Solutions for Ocean Waste Management

The final paragraph introduces the Seabin, a device installed in marinas and ports to prevent garbage from entering the water. It describes the Seabin V5's ability to collect marine debris within a 50-meter radius and its low operational cost. The paragraph also mentions the Pacific Garbage Screening project, which initially aimed to create a giant floating platform to extract plastic from the ocean but faced feasibility issues. The designer, Marcella Hansch, pivoted to a smaller garbage collection boat named CollectiX and a river platform called HiveX, both designed to collect waste without affecting marine life or shipping traffic. The paragraph concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on these technologies and to subscribe for more informative videos.

Keywords

💡Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic objects in the environment, causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems. In the video, it is highlighted as a major issue with millions of tonnes of plastic ending up in the ocean annually, leading to a potential scenario where there will be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans by 2050.

💡Waste-to-Energy Conversion

Waste-to-energy conversion is a process that converts waste materials into energy, often in the form of electricity or fuel. The video mentions The Manta, a sailing boat that uses this technology to turn collected waste into electricity, powering its own electrical equipment and minimizing environmental impact.

💡Floating Macro-Waste

Floating macro-waste refers to large, visible pieces of plastic waste that float on the surface of the water. The Manta is equipped to collect both floating macro-waste and smaller debris, showcasing the need to address various forms of plastic pollution in the oceans.

💡Ocean Cleanup Technologies

Ocean cleanup technologies encompass a range of innovative solutions designed to remove plastic and other waste from the oceans. The video discusses several such technologies, including The Manta, 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer, The Ocean Cleanup, Seabin, and Pacific Garbage Screening, each targeting different aspects of the pollution problem.

💡Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources, like wind and hydro-power, are highlighted in the video as the Manta's power supply, emphasizing the importance of sustainable energy in combating pollution without adding to environmental stress.

💡Interceptor

The Interceptor is a device designed to extract plastic waste from rivers before it reaches the ocean. It is part of The Ocean Cleanup's strategy to address the issue at its source, targeting the 1,000 rivers responsible for around 80% of river-borne plastic waste.

💡Seabin

Seabins are described as 'garbage cans of the ocean' and are installed in marinas, ports, and yacht clubs to collect marine debris within a certain radius. They operate by sucking in water and trapping litter and debris in a catch bag, contributing to the reduction of waste entering the ocean from land.

💡Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic, often less than 5mm in size, that can be harmful to marine life. The Seabin is capable of catching floating debris including microplastics up to 2mm in size, indicating the technology's ability to address even the smallest forms of pollution.

💡Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation zone of plastics in the world's oceans. The video discusses The Ocean Cleanup's efforts to deploy devices like System 002 to clean up this area, highlighting the scale of the problem and the innovative approaches needed to tackle it.

💡CollectiX

CollectiX is a small garbage collection boat designed to remove waste and determine its source. It is part of a shift in focus from large-scale ocean cleanup platforms to more targeted and feasible solutions, capable of handling up to 20 tonnes of ocean garbage daily.

💡Hivex

Hivex is a smaller version of the original stationary platform idea for rivers, designed to discharge a significant portion of the plastic flowing into it. It represents an adaptation of the initial concept to make it more practical and effective in high-polluting rivers.

Highlights

Millions of tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean annually, with a prediction of more plastic waste than fish by 2050.

Various technologies are being implemented to clean up the oceans, including giant plastic-eating sailboats and ocean garbage bins.

The Manta, a 56-meter sailing boat, collects and processes waste at sea, capable of collecting up to 3 tonnes of waste per hour.

The Manta is equipped with four collection systems and uses its own waste-to-energy conversion unit to power its electrical equipment.

The Manta's waste-to-energy process is eco-friendly, converting 95% of collected debris into electricity on board.

The Manta is also powered by renewable energy sources, including wind turbines and hydro-generators, operating without fossil fuels.

Construction on the Manta began in 2022, with the first model estimated to be complete in two years and deployed in the world's most polluted waterways by 2024.

The Manta aims to collect 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes of waste annually, addressing the issue of 17 tons of plastic dumped into the oceans every minute.

The 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer is a smaller boat designed for high-density debris areas, having collected over 7000 tonnes of trash.

The Mobile Skimmer uses retractable arms and a conveyor belt to collect waste, with a super sack capable of holding up to 100 kilograms of garbage.

4Ocean has expanded its cleanup services globally, partnering with Safe Harbor Marinas and launching a beach-cleaning robot called the BeBot.

The Ocean Cleanup project aims to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040, starting with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The Ocean Cleanup's System 002, nicknamed Jenny, is set to clean an area equivalent to 10 football fields every hour.

A fleet of 60 devices like System 002 will be deployed across the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, with hopes of removing half the plastic in five years.

The Ocean Cleanup also focuses on intercepting plastic waste before it reaches the ocean with the Interceptor, an automated debris extraction system.

Seabin, dubbed as garbage cans of the ocean, are being installed in marinas, ports, and yacht clubs to prevent land-based garbage from entering the water.

Seabin V5 operates with the tide, collecting marine debris within a 50-meter radius, with a water pump capable of displacing 25,000 liters per hour.

Over 1100 Seabin units are active in 53 countries, capturing more than 3 tonnes of garbage daily.

Pacific Garbage Screening, initially a giant floating platform system, has evolved into smaller, more feasible garbage collection boats named CollectiX.

CollectiX boats, supported by drones for targeted cleanup, have completed successful operations in Europe and are being adapted for use in rivers with the HiveX platform.

Transcripts

Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic  end up in the ocean. At the current rate,  

there will be more plastic waste than fish  in the oceans by 2050. But what can we do  

against this? Can we stop the  pollution and save our oceans?

In fact, there are already many technologies in  action to clean our oceans from the constantly  

accumulating waste. From giant plastic  eating sailboats to small river skimmers,  

and ocean garbage bins, in this video we will take  a look at 5 innovative ways to rescue our oceans. 

Before we move forward, don't  forget to subscribe to Tech World.  

Leave your thoughts about these innovative  technologies in the comments below.

Number 5: The Manta

We'll start with a giant 56-meter sailing boat  that collects and processes waste simultaneously  

while at sea. The Manta virtually feeds on plastic  waste and can collect both floating macro-waste  

and smaller debris from the depth of  the seas. It is equipped with four  

collection systems that complement the  Manta's efforts to clean up the oceans.

The surface waste is picked up by three floatable  collection systems with a collection span  

of 46 metres. Two smaller, multi-purpose  collection boats are also present on deck  

to pick up waste from the shallowest  and narrowest parts of the ocean.  

Two lateral cranes pull out the largest  pieces of floating debris from the water  

while the waste is brought on board  with Manta's waste-collecting conveyors.

The Manta will be able to collect up to  3 tonnes of waste per hour but it won't  

dump it all on land. In fact, the boat has  its own waste-to-energy conversion unit  

that will turn collected waste into electricity.  The electricity produced on board will, in turn,  

power all of the Manta’s electrical  equipment. The process of waste to  

power conversion is eco-friendly and  won't emit any pollutants into the air.

Using these sustainable methods,  

close to 95% of collected debris  will be processed onboard the Manta.  

The remaining waste will be packaged and taken  to local waste treatment or recycling plants.

In addition to the waste-to-energy unit,  two wind turbines and two hydro-generators  

will meet the Manta's power needs. The power  supply from renewable energy sources will  

enable the ship to operate without using fossil  fuels, and with a minimal environmental footprint.

Construction on the Manta will start in 2022.  The first model is estimated to be complete  

in two years and is scheduled to feature in  the world's most polluted waterways by 2024.

It will be deployed in estuaries and at  the mouths of the most polluted rivers,  

and will eventually become an  important part of the marine ecosystem.

The Manta's objective is to collect 5,000  to 10,000 tonnes of waste every year.  

However, 17 tons of plastic is being  dumped into the oceans every minute  

and we may need a lot more to truly handle  this massive volume of waste at the sea.  

Fortunately, there are other technologies  in action to fight ocean pollution.

Number 4: 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer

Next on the list is a much smaller boat which  is just as efficient in cleaning up the oceans.

The 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer is designed to remove  large amounts of debris in high-density areas  

and has already helped 4Ocean to collect more  than 7000 tonnes of trash from the oceans.  

The Mobile Skimmer is a 7-meter  long vessel with retractable arms  

that can extend up to 4 meters, giving  it a longer reach with a small footprint.

These retractable arms collect plastic  and other debris and bring it towards the  

front of the skimmer. From there, the waste is  picked up by a conveyor belt that sends trash  

into a large super sack which can hold up to 100  kilograms of garbage. Once the super sack is full,  

a crane attached to the deck of the  skimmer moves the sack out of the way.  

It is then replaced with another one  and the skimmer keeps on cleaning.

After collecting millions of kilograms  of ocean trash locally in Florida,  

the company expanded its cleanup  services to Central America.  

In 2020, they partnered with the Safe Harbor  Marinas to remove trash from Marinas and  

Harbors across the world using a similar  device called the 4Ocean Harbor skimmers.

As of 2021, 4Ocean has also taken up the  task of cleaning the world's beaches.  

In July 2021, they launched a beach-cleaning  robot called the BeBot which mechanically  

removes plastic waste and other debris  without harming the local environment.

The 4Ocean boats are a relatively small device,  taking up a huge task. The next entrant on our  

list, however, is an initiative that introduced a  truly gigantic cleaning device in the open oceans.

Number 3: TheOceanCleanup

Most of the plastic waste flows into the oceans  from rivers, some of it gets captured in the  

ocean currents that carry plastic to one of  five great “garbage patches" in the ocean.

The Ocean Cleanup project aims to remove  90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.  

Their starting point in 2018, was the  Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is  

the world's biggest accumulation  zone of plastics in the world.

The plan was to create an artificial  coastline with garbage retention zones  

that will catch the waste with  the help of two big vessels.  

The vessels will move at a slow speed and create  a speed difference with the floating plastic. This  

will create zones of high waste concentration,  which will then be caught in the retention zone.

Their first device was the 160-meter long  System 001 which was deployed in the Great  

Pacific Garbage Patch for 4 months.  However, it wasn't great at retaining  

plastic and was quickly brought back to the  shore. After a couple of years of testing,  

the Ocean Cleanup has now come up with a scaled-up  600-meter System 002 nicknamed Jenny. It is set to  

be deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch  in August 2021 and will be able to clean up an  

area of 52000 square meters every hour,  an area equivalent to 10 football fields.

Over the next two years a fleet of 60 such devices  will be deployed across the Great Pacific Garbage  

Patch with hopes that the full fleet can remove  half of the plastic in the area within five years.

The project has gained plenty of plaudits.  However, only 5% of the total ocean waste ends up  

in the five great garbage patches. Cleaning these  patches is just one part of the equation, so the  

Ocean Cleanup has turned attention to intercepting  plastic before it even reaches the ocean.

So the ocean system will be complemented  by an innovative clean-up technology  

called the Interceptor. It is an automated debris  

extraction system that will operate  in the world’s top polluting rivers.

Research conducted by the Ocean  Cleanup established that 1,000  

rivers are responsible for around 80% of  river-borne plastic waste in the ocean.

The interceptor can extract up to 100 tonnes  of trash per day under optimized conditions.  

It is powered by renewable energy and can  operate on its own every day of the week.

The Ocean Cleanup seems to be  taking on the plastic pollution  

right from the source, all the way to the ocean. You can learn more about this project in an  

exclusive detailed video on our channel, just  click on the icon in the top right corner.

Number 2: Seabin

Seabins are also dubbed as garbage cans of the  ocean and are rapidly being installed in the  

controlled environments of the World's Marinas  ports and yacht clubs. Marinas and ports can be  

a big source of taking garbage from land to water  and the Seabin project is trying to prevent that.

Their innovative solution, the Seabin V5 moves  up and down with the tide and collects all marine  

debris within a 50-meter radius. It sucks in  water from the surface which then passes through  

a catch bag inside the Seabin. A water pump  capable of displacing 25,000 liters per hour  

sucks water in and out of the Seabin, leaving  litter and debris trapped in the catch bag.

One Seabin can catch 3 kilograms  of floating debris per day  

including microplastics up to 2mm small. The  bin is also equipped with absorbent pads which  

can absorb surface oils and detergents  found in most marinas around the world.

The catch bag inside the bin can hold up to 20Kg  of litter at a time so there's no need to change  

it constantly. Its simple solution means that a  Seabin has a running cost of less than $1 a day.

Seabin is being globally deployed to help  fight the growing ocean plastic problem.  

There are over 1100 Seabin units  currently active in 53 countries  

which all together capture more than  3 tonnes of garbage every single day.

Ocean plastic waste is a complicated problem,  

but something as simple as a Seabin is effectively  fighting one major source of such pollution.

Number 1: Pacific Garbage Screening

Concluding our list of innovative  ocean cleanup technologies  

is a project that was initially designed  to be a giant floating platform system  

that screens and extracts  plastic particles from the ocean.

It was a 400-meter-wide floating structure  with teeth-like grills reaching 35 meters deep  

into the water. The design would  pull the ocean plastic underwater  

by slowing down the ocean currents.  Since plastic is lighter than water,  

the plastic particles end up floating to the  surface and can be easily skimmed from there.

The unique design also ensured the  protection of marine life since  

there was no need for filter  systems like nets to collect  

waste. Fish and other marine life can simply  pass through the platform without being caught.

The solution looked great on paper and its  designer, Germany's Marcella Hansch received a lot  

of applause for it. However, they soon found out  that the project could not be turned into reality.

The feasibility study for the project would  have cost close to $8 million. Experts also  

pointed out that 90 percent of the ocean garbage  had already sunk and could not be retrieved  

while the floating platform also ran the  risk of taking microorganisms out of the sea.

Hansch quickly shifted focus to rivers in an  

attempt to stop plastic waste from  entering the ocean at its source.  

A change in goals came with changes in design and  the latest cleanup technology is a much smaller  

garbage collection boat that aims to take out  the waste and determine where it comes from.

The boat named CollectiX is only  6.4 meters long and 2.4 meters wide.  

Despite its small size, it is very  efficient when it comes to waste  

collection and can handle up to 20  tonnes of ocean garbage every day.

The garbage is brought into the boat by a  conveyor ramp that is lowered into the water.  

Each garbage boat is supported  by a drone that identifies waste  

hotspots so that the cleanup can be  carried out in a targeted manner.

The garbage boats have already completed  successful cleanup operations in Europe  

and the startup responsible for the  technology is now working on a smaller  

version of the original stationary platform  idea for the rivers. The platform is named  

Hivex and is set to be used in high polluting  rivers around the world by the end of 2021.

Just like the garbage collection boats, the HiveX  platform has smaller dimensions measuring only 6  

meters in length. The platform will be able to  discharge 80% of the plastic flowing into it and  

will collect up to 5 tons of plastic per day. As  with the original idea, HiveX can stay on-site for  

a long time and collect garbage without affecting  shipping traffic or the marine ecosystem.

What do you think of the technologies cleaning up  the oceans? Which of these 5 has impressed you the  

most? Let us know in the comments below. Make sure  to like this video and subscribe to Tech World for  

more interesting videos in the future. Thank you  for watching, we will see you in the next video.