A coalition with environmental organization
This was realized in collaboration with the client and partner in the project, the Dutch non-profit organization The Ocean Cleanup. Together we developed a prototype in 2021, a solution that was very successful and has collected large amounts of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A new and improved version has now been developed, where Mørenot was again chosen as the supplier for this important project called "System 03". "With over 100 years of experience from fisheries and aquaculture, it was gratifying that we can now use our technology and expertise to develop "System 03", which is three times the size of the previous one. This is a project we are very committed to and proud to have been a part of. ‘With more than a century’s experience from the fisheries and aquaculture industry, it’s great that we can now use our technology and know-how to help The Ocean Cleanup develop System 03, which is three times as big as the previous system. We’re really enthusiastic about the project and are proud to be a part of it,’ says CEO of the Mørenot group Arne Birkeland.
Precise, gentle, and effective
The cleanup system has been specially designed and tailored for this purpose. It is four meters deep and designed as a funnel with an opening at the bottom to ensure that fish and other marine life are not trapped when trawling for marine plastic. Several safety systems have been installed to ensure that fish and other marine life are not dragged along by trawling for plastic. One of the safety systems is located along the 75 m long trawl bag, where the bottom panel can be closed manually using air. Two offshore vessels pull the net between them at a speed of 1.5 knots. The 2.5 km long net will remove plastic the size of a football field – every 15 seconds. That represents a potential of just under 6,000 football pitches a day.
Security system activated. Photo: The Ocean Cleanup.
A great responsibility
Every year, about 12 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean and pose an enormous threat to all marine life.
As part of an industry that lives off the ocean, this project is extremely important to us and therefore we will always continue to challenge ourselves to do even more to maintain the oceans as an important food source for future generations.
Fish safely swim along the system. Photo: The Ocean Cleanup.
Operation and Maintenance
Mørenot delivered System 03 in the summer of 2022 and has since been operating in the Pacific on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
During the winter period in 2023, Mørenot conducted a full maintenance of System 03. Modifications and improvements were made so that the system can be operational without long downtime.
Follow developments and read more about the project here:
https://theoceancleanup.com/
System 03 trawl bag filled with plastic ready for emptying. Photo: The Ocean Cleanup.
About Mørenot
Mørenot is a global supplier to fisheries, aquaculture and seismic and has 800 dedicated employees in sales, service and production worldwide. Our main mission is to provide solutions for sustainable harvesting of marine resources.
About The Ocean Cleanup
Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization that develops solutions to rid the oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal by taking a two-pronged approach: curbing inflow via rivers and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops large systems to efficiently collect and remove the plastic regularly. To curb litter via rivers, The Ocean Cleanup has developed solutions to stop plastic before it reaches the ocean. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broad team of approximately 100. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, visit: theoceancleanup.com and follow @theoceancleanup on social media.
