System 002

The Ocean Clean Up is an organization that aims to develop innovative solutions to combat ocean pollution. One of their most notable projects is System 002, a passive ocean cleanup technology designed to remove plastic waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive collection of plastic waste, estimated to be twice the size of Texas. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, making it extremely difficult to clean up using traditional methods. That’s where System 002 comes in.

System 002 is a 600-meter-long floating system that uses ocean currents to passively capture and concentrate plastic waste. The system consists of a U-shaped barrier that traps plastic waste as it drifts by. Once the plastic is captured, it is then collected and transported back to shore for proper disposal.

One of the main advantages of System 002 is that it is entirely passive, meaning it requires no external energy source to operate. It relies solely on ocean currents to move and capture plastic waste. This makes it a cost-effective and sustainable solution to ocean pollution.

The Ocean Clean Up conducted a successful test of System 002 in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 2021. During the six-month trial, the system captured and concentrated a significant amount of plastic waste. The results were encouraging, and The Ocean Clean Up plans to continue improving and scaling the technology to clean up more of the ocean’s plastic waste.

However, System 002 is not without its limitations. The system is not designed to capture microplastics, which are smaller than 5mm in size. Microplastics pose a significant threat to marine life and can enter the food chain, making them difficult to remove from the ocean. Additionally, the system’s reliance on ocean currents means it may not be effective in areas with weak currents.

In conclusion, System 002 is a promising technology in the fight against ocean pollution. It provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution to remove plastic waste from the ocean, and its success in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a positive step forward. However, more work needs to be done to address the issue of microplastics and to develop solutions for areas with weaker currents. Overall, System 002 is a significant development in the ongoing effort to preserve our planet’s oceans.