Progress report for
The Ocean Cleanup
Achievement at a glance
After several months of trialing modifications, the ocean cleaning concept could be confirmed on October 2, 2019.On December 12, 2019, The Ocean Cleanup brings its collected plastic back on shore in Vancouver BC (Canada) and announces plans on what will happen with the material next. With the conclusion of Mission One, The Ocean Cleanup has begun preparations for their next system, System 002. The aim of this new design is to create a full-scale, fully operational system. The engineering team has initiated the development phase by addressing the essential remaining design challenges long-term durability and sustained plastic retention and will test updated features, once completed. System 002 will be a key stepping stone to full scale cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.Challenges faced in implementation
Since the launch of the first cleanup system, System 001, from San Francisco in September 2018, most items on the long list of deliverables for the technology could be checked off one-by-one. Early reports showed, however, that System 001 was not retaining plastic as it should, and despite attempts to remedy this and successful design confirmations, the system suffered a fatigue fracture, resulting in a need to return the system to shore in January 2019. The engineering team performed a root cause analysis, redesigned a modified system, and, in record time, The Ocean Cleanup deployed the upgraded system, System 001/B, in June 2019. After several months of trialing modifications, the ocean cleaning concept could be confirmed on October 2, 2019.Beneficiaries
Trash accumulates in five ocean garbage patches, the largest one being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California. If left to circulate, the plastic will impact our ecosystems, health, and economies.