Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has signed an agreement with the Seabin Project to join their global pilot programme, which addresses the worldwide littering problem affecting our oceans. The project aims at approaching the challenge from different angles with emphasis on education, research and technology.
Wärtsilä will work in cooperation with Seabin Project for the next three years and has sponsored both the city and port of Helsinki’s involvement with the programme. The Wärtsilä-Seabin partnership aims at dynamic and versatile actions using Wärtsilä’s experience, established technologies, and know-how in environmental product development.
‘Wärtsilä is proud to join the Seabin Global Pilot Programme. As one of the marine industry’s leading solutions suppliers, it is our responsibility to supply efficient products that help our customers protect the environment. Environmental actions need to take place now and everyone can play a role, corporations as well as individuals,’ said Wärtsilä president Jaakko Eskola.
The partnership with Seabin is part of Wärtsilä Corporation’s Finland 100 year centennial programme. The company is celebrating 100 years of Finland’s independence by giving something back to the country, part of which is the sponsorship of the city and port of Helsinki.
The Seabin is a floating rubbish bin that is located in the water at marinas, docks, yacht clubs and commercial ports, collecting all floating rubbish. Water is sucked in from the surface and passes through the catch bag filter inside the Seabin. The water is then pumped back into the marina leaving litter and debris trapped in the catch bag to be disposed of properly. The Seabin also has the potential to collect a percentage of oils and pollutants floating on the water surface. The team at Seabin Project are currently using 12 volt submersible water pumps, which have the option to use alternative and cleaner energy sources. This may be using solar, wave or wind power technology depending on the geographical location and current technologies available.
Seabin’s global pilot programme will be launched in April 2017 with the presentation and installation of the latest prototype (V5 Hybrid) in different locations around the globe. Helsinki will be one of these locations and is to date the only one in the Nordic countries. During the three month test period, user experience and data will be gathered from the pilot partners before commercial sales of the Seabins commence.
In order to work for cleaner maritime environments, Wärtsilä has also signed an agreement with the city of Helsinki and the Port of Helsinki to donate two pre-series Seabins for testing in Helsinki during the trial period. Four additional Seabins can then be installed after commercial sales begin.
‘We are excited that Wärtsilä has joined the programme and even more proud that they are sponsoring an entire city with Seabins. We expect to see some amazing and dynamic collaborations in the very near future with Wärtsilä to further develop the technology, and to get the Seabins off the dock and into the waters,’ said SeaBin Project co-founder and MD Pete Ceglinski.
