What happens when you hit one of these?

[Rorzech]

The Asians will be the first to be squawking when the fish are all gone due to pollution !

[hzcruiser]

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

Any do-gooder nation, government agency, non-government organization or feel-good PC groups should have to post multi-million dollar liability bonds for any damage, injury or loss of life attributable to such nonsense.

Attack the source of the problem which are a handful Asian countries who don't give a damn

And how do we get rid of the tons of plastic already out there, killing more animals (fish and mammals) every day?

[Jason Flare]

I think this is a great idea.

And it’s only going to cost a fraction of tens of billions of dollars.

(Sorry. Couldn’t resist.)

[MickB]

Originally Posted by er9

they should attach a fuel dock, emergency haul out (self service), a water fill station and a mini mart (credit card self serve) to that thing. and a tavern...

This forum definitely needs a LIKE button.

[KP44]

Originally Posted by drakes

I guess I didnt read enough. I searched but couldnt find any info on how you could identify it especially at night. I agree if it helps clean up the debris it great. It just seems like an awful big object to float around -- If it is lighted and has electronic beacons / warning systems then it seems relatively safe.

In just a very quick scan, I saw AIS.

I think the vessel or "collector" will have AIS to let us know where it thinks it is.

[JeanneP]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

One could remove many times the trash this thing can it’s lifetime by preventing the trash from entering the ocean at the few known sources in Asia contributing by far the lions share.

We spent several years cruising in the South Pacific (back in the 90s), and the amount of plastic trash being dumped into the ocean is worrisome. We spent one cyclone season in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The plastic trash, foam coffee cups, etc., was massive. The plastic thrown overboard in the harbor by the tuna fleet, locals, visiting yachts was immense. The stories told about the mess were often the "not mine, it's those people" finger-pointing. A cruiser friend taught science in the local high school, and he said it was near impossible to get across the difference between bio-degradable garbage (good, in that it rots away to fertilizer) and the plastics (there forever, thus not-good). This is a culture that has always used the sea as their giant compost heap and hadn't adapted to the non-degradable plastics. And it wasn't much different in any other South Pacific island.

The many soft drink plastic bottles, foam coffee cups, plastic bags, etc. floating in the water after a holiday weekend in the summer is dreadful. Of course it would be better to catch this stuff before it gets into the water, but considering how much already there, something has to be done to remove it, as best we can.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

Attack the source of the problem which are a handful Asian countries who don't give a damn

The source of the problem is too much plastic being disposed of indiscriminately, period. By all countries.

The West has been better at collection, but until recently, we mostly dealt with our plastic waste by.... shipping it to about that same set of Asian countries. Nice, huh?

That's stopped, the West now has to handle their own plastic waste.

[malyea]

In the news - Blue Ocean Sails supports microplastics research off the NE Florida coast...and you can to.

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/mobile/video/news/vital-steps-you-can-take-to-reduce-the-amount-of-plastic-you-use/77-8200728

Donate time afloat on your vessel to support marine science education and research. Contact Blue Ocean Sails and join the effort.

www.facebook.com/BlueOceanSails

[rdheaney]

Originally Posted by er9

they should attach a fuel dock, emergency haul out (self service), a water fill station and a mini mart (credit card self serve) to that thing. and a tavern...

Do you want Smokers? Because that's how you get Smokers!

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by drakes

What happens when you hit one of these floating garbage collectors?

https://www.theoceancleanup.com/technology/


Is it legal to just set a 600 meter/ 2000 ft unmanned object adrift ?

Pretty much legal to do anything in the open ocean.
Did you read your link?
There are navigation lites, beacons, AIS TRANSPONDER, unlike the garbage it is collecting.
It is in a remote location, averaging 5 vessels in an area the size of Texas.
For the good it will do and the visual and radio markers, YES.
Glad it's there!!!
Cheers
SV Cloud Duster

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

The source of the problem is too much plastic being disposed of indiscriminately, period. By all countries.

The West has been better at collection, but until recently, we mostly dealt with our plastic waste by.... shipping it to about that same set of Asian countries. Nice, huh?

That's stopped, the West now has to handle their own plastic waste.

Better that we don't continue to use plastic.
There are other types of materials that compost under UV, saltwater.
Only the oil companies get rich on this stuff.
When do WE say ENOUGH!
SV Cloud Duster

[er9]

Originally Posted by rdheaney

Do you want Smokers? Because that's how you get Smokers!

lol....yeah didnt think of that. time to mount a .50 cal to the bow.

[Montanan]

The solution is two fold, keep plastics from entering streams and rivers so it doesn't end up in the ocean and lakes and to clean up the floating debris in the ocean. There is a massive amount that does not float near the surface but their project is a good attempt to clean up humanities wastefulness and poor stewardship. I don't see this object being any more hazardous then a large drift net which I understand can be as long as 50 km; actually this device is likely much more visible, especially with its navigational aids. Very Admiral able effort.

[hellosailor]

Well, it is not a "vessel" so a lot of admiralty law won't matter.

But someone would still have been negligent, creating a nuisance and endangerment, if they simply deployed one that was unmarked, uncharted, and not publicized in the NTMs or similar documents. You'd have to sue them in their native jurisdiction, probably.

[thruska]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

Better that we don't continue to use plastic.
There are other types of materials that compost under UV, saltwater.
Only the oil companies get rich on this stuff.
When do WE say ENOUGH!
SV Cloud Duster

It’s a known fact that industrial hemp derivatives can replace petroleum derivatives. But the big oil cartels lobby big time with heaps of cash to lawmakers one way or another.
And of course all you guys with oil futures stock will take a hep big hit.
That’s where the bear shits in buckwheat, like it or not.
Same old story, follow the money...