Pollution hunting ‘shark’ on the prowl
Ecocoast’s marine drone ‘swallows’ plastic, algae, weeds and other debris
Ecocoast’s marine drone ‘swallows’ plastic, algae, weeds and other debris in Dubai Marina waters |
Move over Jaws. There’s a new shark in town and it’s already taking a huge bite out of marine pollution at Dubai Marina.
WasteShark, a 1.5 metre long marine, green and clean drone-of-sorts, made its first public appearance yesterday swimming along at 10km/h, on the hunt for plastic, algae, weeds and discarded debris on the water surface.
With an attached underwater debris cage capable of carrying up to 350kg of waste when full, the WasteShark takes the rubbish to the shore to be emptied, and starts its clean-up all over again. It can also soak up and store 180 litres of oil from the water. Operated manually or autonomously, the device can run 24/7 with a quick charge of its battery.
WasteShark can also be fitted with electronic sensors to capture data such as air quality, water quality or photographic imagery, when used for marine security purposes.
The brainchild of Dubai-based marine protection systems firm Ecocoast — in partnership with RanMarine Technology — WasteShark has made its home in Dubai Marina in partnership with Dubai Marina Yacht Club.
Dana Liparts, Ecocoast’s director, displayed WasteShark’s versatility in a demonstration to Gulf News at the marina yesterday, noting the marine cleaner is already in use in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia given its far less expensive alternative operation costs, compared to high-end marina and coastal maintenance vessels and crews.
Liparts, and her business partner Lachlan Jackson, managing director — both of whom hail from Australia’s Gold Coast — founded Ecosystem in 2009 at Dubai Industrial Park, and the firm since has become the largest manufacturer of silt curtains used at marine construction sites in the world, she said.