About five years ago, a 19-year-old Dutch engineering student, Boyan Slat, made a big splash, at least on the internet, when he unveiled his design of refuse collecting booms, which he claimed would clean the oceans of plastics within five … Continue reading
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At one point in her long and storied career, the 1885 built, 131-foot schooner yacht Coronet was owned by a rather dodgy religious group which called itself “The Kingdom.” The group was led by Frank Sandford who circumnavigated the globe on the yacht in 1905. … Continue reading
The best way to combat plastic pollution in the oceans is to stop the plastic before it gets there. We have been posting about the ever-growing garbage patches in the world’s oceans for the better part of a decade. The posts are beginning … Continue reading
Manta Point is a popular dive spot off the southernmost shore of Nusa Penida Island, near Bali, Indonesia. Divers are attracted by the large number of manta rays which congregate there. On March 3rd, a British diver, Rich Horner, found far more than mantas at … Continue reading
A new study has found record quantities of microplastics in sea ice. The study, published this week in Nature Communications, demonstrates “just how pervasive this type of pollution has become in every last corner of our planet,” says Melanie Bergmann, one of … Continue reading
Autonomous barges may soon be carrying cargo and passengers on Amsterdam’s 100 km of canals. Referred to as roboats (as in robot boats, not rowboats) they can also be linked together to create bridges and performance stages and platforms. The … Continue reading
As the problem of trash and plastic in our waters gets worse, new (and a few older technologies) are being used to respond. They range from small and functional, like the Seabin, a sort of high tech floating bucket designed … Continue reading
I was recently shocked and disturbed to see photos of a significant quantity of floating plastics and trash in the Caribbean near the Honduran Island of Roatán. Roatán is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras. It is a beautiful island with incredible diving. My … Continue reading
In May 2104, we posted “Sailing in Sewage — Olympic Sailors in Guanabara Bay at Rio de Janeiro.” The post was about the challenge of sailing the Olympic trials in Guanabara Bay, a body of water thoroughly befouled with garbage and … Continue reading
For several years now, we have posted about the so-called ocean garbage patches, the great swaths of the oceans where plastic and other floating debris accumulate while riding on vast circular currents. The problem is that an estimated 8 million … Continue reading
I am very pleased to have been interviewed by George Jepson in the May/June issue of the McBooks Press‘ newsletter “Quarterdeck.” If you haven’t run across “Quarterdeck” you should take a look. (A subscription is free.) This issue includes my … Continue reading
Last May, we posted about concerns over high concentrations of sewage and garbage in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay, where 2016 Olympic sailing competitions are slated to be held. Now scientists at a Rio de Janeiro research institute have found what they call … Continue reading
Yesterday, we posted about a beach where the ocean has worn down glass, which once had been discarded as trash. The “glass beach” is now beautiful and enjoyed by thousands. If only all our trash was glass. Another beach comes … Continue reading
Many years ago my wife and I kayaked with a group in Blackfish Sound off Vancouver. We paddled with orcas by day and by night camped on the many islands of the sound. On several nights, we camped at what had … Continue reading
In March of 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was hit by a tsunami triggered by the magnitude 9.0 Tōhoku earthquake. Three operating nuclear reactors suffered partial meltdowns and a fourth reactor which was not in service suffered hydrogen explosions which … Continue reading
Discarded plastic is a major problem in today’s oceans. Plastics leach toxic chemicals into the seawater while otherwise not degrading. Recently researchers at Harvard University have announced they have created a new bio-degrable plastic based on, of all things, shrimp shells. We have posted … Continue reading
Sailors in the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will face more than just tough competition. They will be sailing in Guanabara Bay, a body of water thoroughly befouled with garbage and sewage. Falling overboard is not recommended. As reported by the … Continue reading
Roughly two hundred years ago, Lord Byron published Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, which contains a stanza that today seems sadly dated: Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean–roll! Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain; Man marks the earth … Continue reading
When US Coast Guard inspectors came aboard the bulk carrier M/V Aquarosa in Baltimore in February of 2011, a junior engineer slipped them a note, which read, “I have sometheng to till you but secret.” The engineer, Salvatore Lopez, from the Philippines, had collected evidence of the illegal … Continue reading
For all the damage that the Japanese tsunami of March 11th left behind on shore, it also carried considerable wreckage out to sea. this week the Japanese Coast Guard warned ships to look out for and avoid the floating … Continue reading