marine pollution

The Ocean Cleanup arrives at Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Shortly after the Dutch foundation The Ocean Cleanup announced that its System is appropriate to conduct a cleanup operation in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the team has now arrived at the scene aboard the ‘Maersk Launcher’ to tackle the world’s largest accumulation of ocean plastics.

Happening now: We have arrived at the deployment location in the heart of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the crew is putting the system into its designated U-shape. The operation is going smoothly. More...

https://safety4sea.com/the-ocean-cleanup-arrives-at-great-pacific-garbage-patch/

52 Fishing Aggregating Devices found in UNESCO-listed Aeolian Islands

Sea Shepherd and the Aeolian Islands Preservation Fund joined forces to tackle Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in Italy’s Aeolian Archipelago. Sea Shepherd’s vessel ‘Sam Simon’ together with Lipari’s Coast Guard, Milazzo’s Revenue and Customs Authorities, and with the collaboration of artisanal fishermen, confiscated 52 Fishing Aggregating Devices (FADs) and 100 km of polypropylene line in the Aeolian Islands in 178 hours.

The Sam Simon carried out an undercover operation in...

https://safety4sea.com/52-fishing-aggregating-devices-found-in-unesco-listed-aeolian-islands/

Study: Oil dispersant was toxic for oysters after Deepwater Horizon spill

The oil dispersant that was used to clean up the oil after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had likely toxic effects for oysters, according to Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at the University of Connecticut. The team determined this by comparing the low levels of toxicity of oil, the dispersant and a mixture of the two on Eastern oysters.

There’s an unfortunate trade-off to using dispersants like this. They may prevent giant oil spills from washing ashore and damaging wetlands, but...

https://safety4sea.com/study-oil-dispersant-was-toxic-for-oysters-after-deepwater-horizon-spill/

Poor pre-bunker checklist contributes to HSFO overflow

In its latest Safety Digest, the UK MAIB described an incident of a Heavy Sulphur Fuel Oil overflow during bunkering operation. MAIB highlighted that at least one of the two isolating valves that caused the incident could have been closed fully if it had been checked as per the checklist.

The incident

An LPG carrier was at anchor awaiting a berth when instructions to take bunkers were received. A bunkering plan was completed by the ship’s crew prior to the bunker barge arriving alongside.

A...

https://safety4sea.com/poor-pre-bunker-checklist-contributes-to-hsfo-overflow/

Watch: Ocean Cleanup system is ‘go’ for Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Shortly after the Dutch Foundation Ocean Cleanup completed cleanup trials in the Pacific, the NGO conducted a meeting on Tuesday evening in Rotterdam to fully evaluate the current situation. A careful rundown of all tests was presented, and concerns and issues were brought to the table. After two hours of evaluation and discussion, it was concluded that System 001 shall continue to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

For the last two weeks, the Foundation’s crew aboard the ‘Maersk Launcher’...

https://safety4sea.com/watch-ocean-cleanup-system-is-go-for-great-pacific-garbage-patch/

Ocean Cleanup gets green light to proceed to Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Ocean Cleanup announced that it has the ‘go’ to continue its journey to the the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and start cleaning plastics, after two weeks of tests in the Pacific.

The trials showed that U-shape installation attained sufficient speed through water, something that means that it can move faster than the plastics, thus being able to capture it. What is more, it will be able to reorient if wind and wave direction change, keeping a steady state.

Another important conclusion is the...

https://safety4sea.com/ocean-cleanup-gets-green-light-to-proceed-to-great-pacific-garbage-patch/

Top 10 garbage items collected from beach clean ups worldwide

In 2017, about a total of 800,000 volunteers in more that 100 countries gathered and collectively removed more than 20 million pieces of trash from beaches and waterways worldwide. The weight of the total trash collected was equal to 812 cruise ship anchors.

Volunteers were mobilized as part of the NGO Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, which, in partnership with volunteer organizations around the globe, mobilizes volunteers to remove millions of pounds of trash from beaches and...

https://safety4sea.com/top-10-garbage-items-collected-from-beach-clean-ups-worldwide/

Master, owners to be charged over large oil spill in Darwin Harbour

Australia’s Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has commenced legal proceedings against the master and owners of a ship responsible for a large oil spill in Darwin Harbour on 19 August 2016. The legal proceedings follow a complex, two year investigation by DENR and the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) into the oil spill.

According to DENR Director Environmental Operations, Mr Peter Vasel, the master of the multi-purpose general...

https://safety4sea.com/master-owners-to-be-charged-over-large-oil-spill-in-darwin-harbour/

Infographic: A guide to plastic in the ocean

Plastic garbage at sea is a key threat the planet has to face, as there is about 8 million metric tons of plastic making way in the ocean every year. This is equivalent to the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers. These plastics come in many different forms: Among the top 10 kinds of trash picked up during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup were food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, straws, and take out containers, all made of plastic.

US NOAA issued an infographic depicting the...

https://safety4sea.com/infographic-a-guide-to-plastic-in-the-ocean/

Canada announces more funds for shipwrecks removal

As part of its earlier announced efforts to address the problem of abandoned boats across Canadian coastlines, the Government of Canada announced the most recent applicants to receive funding under the Abandoned Boats Program. This program provides money to support the assessment, removal, and disposal of abandoned boats in Canadian waters.

A total of $31,346 will be provided to remove six boats that litter the shores of British Columbia. Recipients are:

  • Bowen Island Municipality (Bowen Island)...

https://safety4sea.com/canada-announces-more-funds-for-shipwrecks-removal/

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