Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)’s subsidiary Nihon Tug-Boat installed the Seabin automated marine debris collection device on October 21 in cooperation with the City of Hiroshima at the Hiroshima Municipal Pier in the Port of Hiroshima, which Nihon Tug-Boat uses as a tugboat terminal.
The Seabin, sold by Heisen Yoko, is a submersible water pump capable of absorbing 25,000 liters per hour of debris suspended in the tidal current, which can be installed in calm water environments such as harbors and marinas, and can also collect microplastics as small as 2 mm. The device skims the surface of the water to collect debris, and collected a total of 23 kg in two and a half days after the installation.
In addition to the installation of the Seabin, Nihon Tug-Boat helps protect the marine environment in the Port of Hiroshima by sorting the debris that the device collects on a daily basis. The debris is then properly disposed of in accordance with Japan’s Industrial Waste Disposal Act.
The MOL Group has positioned marine environmental conservation as a key issue in the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1,” and is engaged in a variety of initiatives, including the development of ocean microplastic collection device, coastal cleanup activities, and educational activities on marine conservation. The group proactively engages in initiatives on marine environmental conservation, and continually contributes to the sustainable growth of local communities.
Photo credit: Pexels/ mali maeder. Stock photo of plastic waste.
