Environment

Last Updated on 11 June 2020

The Ocean Cleanup Part two

Following a feature in Caribbean Maritime (issue 39), it’s time to provide a further update in regard to the installation of The Ocean Cleanup’s new Interceptor garbage collection barge in the Dominican Republic - the first of its kind in the region.

After transportation from Rotterdam in late February by Nirint Shipping’s 17,000 dwt multipurpose vessel Augusta Luna, The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor 004 was unloaded in Santo Domingo in early March. Nirint had fixed the cargo via Amsterdam’s We Ship Yachts and NEPA Shipping, also based in the Netherlands.

Interceptor 004 was planned for transfer to its location in the highly polluted Rio Ozama in the same month, but in line with many other aspects of global human activity the impact of coronavirus initially postponed its installation. As the Ocean Cleanup says: “Health and safety comes first, so this (delay) was the wisest decision. And, although this matter is slowing down activity all over the world, we are continuing our work towards our mission.”