The SeaCleaners develop a range of solutions to combat plastic pollution, one of which is the Manta, a first-of-a-kind processing ship designed to collect, treat and repurpose large volumes of floating plastic debris.
The Manta extracts both floating macro-waste and smaller debris from 10 millimetres upwards and up to one metre deep, from highly polluted waters, along coasts, in estuaries and in the mouths of large rivers. Depending on the density and closeness of the layers of waste, the Manta can collect between 1 to 3 tonnes of waste per hour, with the objective of collecting 5 to 10,000 tonnes per year. It can operate for up to 20 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Manta is equipped with four complementary collection systems:
- Waste-collecting conveyors, which bring the waste on board.
- Three floatable collection systems, which have a collection span of 46 metres and pick up surface waste.
- Two small, multi-purpose collection boats, or "Mobulas," which can pick up both micro- and macro-plastic waste from the shallowest and narrowest parts of the ocean that the Manta can't get to.
- Two lateral cranes, which pull out the largest pieces of floating debris from the water.
The Manta will also host other scientific missions on board, and when in port will hold educational and learning conferences for the general public. A showcase for innovative technological solutions, waste management and for clean shipping technologies, it will serve as a lever to accelerate the deployment of the circular economy in its areas of operation.
