Can we Save our Oceans?
Summary
TLDRThis 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
- š 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.
- š¢ '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.
- š The Manta features a waste-to-energy conversion unit that turns collected waste into electricity, powering the boat's electrical equipment without emitting pollutants.
- š„ļø 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.
- šļø 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.
- š 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.
- š 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.
- šļø 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.
- š 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.
- š§ 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
š 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.
š¢ 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.
šļø 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Plastic Pollution
š”Waste-to-Energy Conversion
š”Floating Macro-Waste
š”Ocean Cleanup Technologies
š”Renewable Energy
š”Interceptor
š”Seabin
š”Microplastics
š”Great Pacific Garbage Patch
š”CollectiX
š”Hivex
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 plasticĀ end up in the ocean. At the current rate,Ā Ā
there will be more plastic waste than fishĀ in the oceans by 2050. But what can we doĀ Ā
against this? Can we stop theĀ pollution and save our oceans?
In fact, there are already many technologies inĀ action to clean our oceans from the constantlyĀ Ā
accumulating waste. From giant plasticĀ eating sailboats to small river skimmers,Ā Ā
and ocean garbage bins, in this video we will takeĀ a look at 5 innovative ways to rescue our oceans.Ā
Before we move forward, don'tĀ forget to subscribe to Tech World.Ā Ā
Leave your thoughts about these innovativeĀ technologies in the comments below.
Number 5: The Manta
We'll start with a giant 56-meter sailing boatĀ that collects and processes waste simultaneouslyĀ Ā
while at sea. The Manta virtually feeds on plasticĀ waste and can collect both floating macro-wasteĀ Ā
and smaller debris from the depth ofĀ the seas. It is equipped with fourĀ Ā
collection systems that complement theĀ Manta's efforts to clean up the oceans.
The surface waste is picked up by three floatableĀ collection systems with a collection spanĀ Ā
of 46 metres. Two smaller, multi-purposeĀ collection boats are also present on deckĀ Ā
to pick up waste from the shallowestĀ and narrowest parts of the ocean.Ā Ā
Two lateral cranes pull out the largestĀ pieces of floating debris from the waterĀ Ā
while the waste is brought on boardĀ with Manta's waste-collecting conveyors.
The Manta will be able to collect up toĀ 3 tonnes of waste per hour but it won'tĀ Ā
dump it all on land. In fact, the boat hasĀ its own waste-to-energy conversion unitĀ Ā
that will turn collected waste into electricity.Ā The electricity produced on board will, in turn,Ā Ā
power all of the Mantaās electricalĀ equipment. The process of waste toĀ Ā
power conversion is eco-friendly andĀ won't emit any pollutants into the air.
Using these sustainable methods,Ā Ā
close to 95% of collected debrisĀ will be processed onboard the Manta.Ā Ā
The remaining waste will be packaged and takenĀ to local waste treatment or recycling plants.
In addition to the waste-to-energy unit,Ā two wind turbines and two hydro-generatorsĀ Ā
will meet the Manta's power needs. The powerĀ supply from renewable energy sources willĀ Ā
enable the ship to operate without using fossilĀ fuels, and with a minimal environmental footprint.
Construction on the Manta will start in 2022.Ā The first model is estimated to be completeĀ Ā
in two years and is scheduled to feature inĀ the world's most polluted waterways by 2024.
It will be deployed in estuaries and atĀ the mouths of the most polluted rivers,Ā Ā
and will eventually become anĀ important part of the marine ecosystem.
The Manta's objective is to collect 5,000Ā to 10,000 tonnes of waste every year.Ā Ā
However, 17 tons of plastic is beingĀ dumped into the oceans every minuteĀ Ā
and we may need a lot more to truly handleĀ this massive volume of waste at the sea.Ā Ā
Fortunately, there are other technologiesĀ in action to fight ocean pollution.
Number 4: 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer
Next on the list is a much smaller boat whichĀ is just as efficient in cleaning up the oceans.
The 4Ocean Mobile Skimmer is designed to removeĀ large amounts of debris in high-density areasĀ Ā
and has already helped 4Ocean to collect moreĀ than 7000 tonnes of trash from the oceans.Ā Ā
The Mobile Skimmer is a 7-meterĀ long vessel with retractable armsĀ Ā
that can extend up to 4 meters, givingĀ it a longer reach with a small footprint.
These retractable arms collect plasticĀ and other debris and bring it towards theĀ Ā
front of the skimmer. From there, the waste isĀ picked up by a conveyor belt that sends trashĀ Ā
into a large super sack which can hold up to 100Ā kilograms of garbage. Once the super sack is full,Ā Ā
a crane attached to the deck of theĀ skimmer moves the sack out of the way.Ā Ā
It is then replaced with another oneĀ and the skimmer keeps on cleaning.
After collecting millions of kilogramsĀ of ocean trash locally in Florida,Ā Ā
the company expanded its cleanupĀ services to Central America.Ā Ā
In 2020, they partnered with the Safe HarborĀ Marinas to remove trash from Marinas andĀ Ā
Harbors across the world using a similarĀ device called the 4Ocean Harbor skimmers.
As of 2021, 4Ocean has also taken up theĀ task of cleaning the world's beaches.Ā Ā
In July 2021, they launched a beach-cleaningĀ robot called the BeBot which mechanicallyĀ Ā
removes plastic waste and other debrisĀ without harming the local environment.
The 4Ocean boats are a relatively small device,Ā taking up a huge task. The next entrant on ourĀ Ā
list, however, is an initiative that introduced aĀ truly gigantic cleaning device in the open oceans.
Number 3: TheOceanCleanup
Most of the plastic waste flows into the oceansĀ from rivers, some of it gets captured in theĀ Ā
ocean currents that carry plastic to one ofĀ five great āgarbage patches" in the ocean.
The Ocean Cleanup project aims to removeĀ 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.Ā Ā
Their starting point in 2018, was theĀ Great Pacific Garbage Patch which isĀ Ā
the world's biggest accumulationĀ zone of plastics in the world.
The plan was to create an artificialĀ coastline with garbage retention zonesĀ Ā
that will catch the waste withĀ the help of two big vessels.Ā Ā
The vessels will move at a slow speed and createĀ a speed difference with the floating plastic. ThisĀ Ā
will create zones of high waste concentration,Ā which will then be caught in the retention zone.
Their first device was the 160-meter longĀ System 001 which was deployed in the GreatĀ Ā
Pacific Garbage Patch for 4 months.Ā However, it wasn't great at retainingĀ Ā
plastic and was quickly brought back to theĀ shore. After a couple of years of testing,Ā Ā
the Ocean Cleanup has now come up with a scaled-upĀ 600-meter System 002 nicknamed Jenny. It is set toĀ Ā
be deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage PatchĀ in August 2021 and will be able to clean up anĀ Ā
area of 52000 square meters every hour,Ā an area equivalent to 10 football fields.
Over the next two years a fleet of 60 such devicesĀ will be deployed across the Great Pacific GarbageĀ Ā
Patch with hopes that the full fleet can removeĀ half of the plastic in the area within five years.
The project has gained plenty of plaudits.Ā However, only 5% of the total ocean waste ends upĀ Ā
in the five great garbage patches. Cleaning theseĀ patches is just one part of the equation, so theĀ Ā
Ocean Cleanup has turned attention to interceptingĀ plastic before it even reaches the ocean.
So the ocean system will be complementedĀ by an innovative clean-up technologyĀ Ā
called the Interceptor. It is an automated debrisĀ Ā
extraction system that will operateĀ in the worldās top polluting rivers.
Research conducted by the OceanĀ Cleanup established that 1,000Ā Ā
rivers are responsible for around 80% ofĀ river-borne plastic waste in the ocean.
The interceptor can extract up to 100 tonnesĀ of trash per day under optimized conditions.Ā Ā
It is powered by renewable energy and canĀ operate on its own every day of the week.
The Ocean Cleanup seems to beĀ taking on the plastic pollutionĀ Ā
right from the source, all the way to the ocean. You can learn more about this project in anĀ Ā
exclusive detailed video on our channel, justĀ click on the icon in the top right corner.
Number 2: Seabin
Seabins are also dubbed as garbage cans of theĀ ocean and are rapidly being installed in theĀ Ā
controlled environments of the World's MarinasĀ ports and yacht clubs. Marinas and ports can beĀ Ā
a big source of taking garbage from land to waterĀ and the Seabin project is trying to prevent that.
Their innovative solution, the Seabin V5 movesĀ up and down with the tide and collects all marineĀ Ā
debris within a 50-meter radius. It sucks inĀ water from the surface which then passes throughĀ Ā
a catch bag inside the Seabin. A water pumpĀ capable of displacing 25,000 liters per hourĀ Ā
sucks water in and out of the Seabin, leavingĀ litter and debris trapped in the catch bag.
One Seabin can catch 3 kilogramsĀ of floating debris per dayĀ Ā
including microplastics up to 2mm small. TheĀ bin is also equipped with absorbent pads whichĀ Ā
can absorb surface oils and detergentsĀ found in most marinas around the world.
The catch bag inside the bin can hold up to 20KgĀ of litter at a time so there's no need to changeĀ Ā
it constantly. Its simple solution means that aĀ Seabin has a running cost of less than $1 a day.
Seabin is being globally deployed to helpĀ fight the growing ocean plastic problem.Ā Ā
There are over 1100 Seabin unitsĀ currently active in 53 countriesĀ Ā
which all together capture more thanĀ 3 tonnes of garbage every single day.
Ocean plastic waste is a complicated problem,Ā Ā
but something as simple as a Seabin is effectivelyĀ fighting one major source of such pollution.
Number 1: Pacific Garbage Screening
Concluding our list of innovativeĀ ocean cleanup technologiesĀ Ā
is a project that was initially designedĀ to be a giant floating platform systemĀ Ā
that screens and extractsĀ plastic particles from the ocean.
It was a 400-meter-wide floating structureĀ with teeth-like grills reaching 35 meters deepĀ Ā
into the water. The design wouldĀ pull the ocean plastic underwaterĀ Ā
by slowing down the ocean currents.Ā Since plastic is lighter than water,Ā Ā
the plastic particles end up floating to theĀ surface and can be easily skimmed from there.
The unique design also ensured theĀ protection of marine life sinceĀ Ā
there was no need for filterĀ systems like nets to collectĀ Ā
waste. Fish and other marine life can simplyĀ pass through the platform without being caught.
The solution looked great on paper and itsĀ designer, Germany's Marcella Hansch received a lotĀ Ā
of applause for it. However, they soon found outĀ that the project could not be turned into reality.
The feasibility study for the project wouldĀ have cost close to $8 million. Experts alsoĀ Ā
pointed out that 90 percent of the ocean garbageĀ had already sunk and could not be retrievedĀ Ā
while the floating platform also ran theĀ risk of taking microorganisms out of the sea.
Hansch quickly shifted focus to rivers in anĀ Ā
attempt to stop plastic waste fromĀ entering the ocean at its source.Ā Ā
A change in goals came with changes in design andĀ the latest cleanup technology is a much smallerĀ Ā
garbage collection boat that aims to take outĀ the waste and determine where it comes from.
The boat named CollectiX is onlyĀ 6.4 meters long and 2.4 meters wide.Ā Ā
Despite its small size, it is veryĀ efficient when it comes to wasteĀ Ā
collection and can handle up to 20Ā tonnes of ocean garbage every day.
The garbage is brought into the boat by aĀ conveyor ramp that is lowered into the water.Ā Ā
Each garbage boat is supportedĀ by a drone that identifies wasteĀ Ā
hotspots so that the cleanup can beĀ carried out in a targeted manner.
The garbage boats have already completedĀ successful cleanup operations in EuropeĀ Ā
and the startup responsible for theĀ technology is now working on a smallerĀ Ā
version of the original stationary platformĀ idea for the rivers. The platform is namedĀ Ā
Hivex and is set to be used in high pollutingĀ rivers around the world by the end of 2021.
Just like the garbage collection boats, the HiveXĀ platform has smaller dimensions measuring only 6Ā Ā
meters in length. The platform will be able toĀ discharge 80% of the plastic flowing into it andĀ Ā
will collect up to 5 tons of plastic per day. AsĀ with the original idea, HiveX can stay on-site forĀ Ā
a long time and collect garbage without affectingĀ shipping traffic or the marine ecosystem.
What do you think of the technologies cleaning upĀ the oceans? Which of these 5 has impressed you theĀ Ā
most? Let us know in the comments below. Make sureĀ to like this video and subscribe to Tech World forĀ Ā
more interesting videos in the future. Thank youĀ for watching, we will see you in the next video.
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