Microplastics, the residue of plastic in the ocean, is one of the challenges which environmentalists are looking to confront. In a first of its kind demonstration project, Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in collaboration with the Miura Company have developed and tested a water filtration device to capture the plastics.
Microplastics, which measure five millimeters or less in size, result from discarded plastic in the ocean that is broken down by ultraviolet rays and wave action. Scientific research has shown that this residue remains suspended in the water for an extended period of time.
Working together, the Japanese companies jointly developed a microplastics collection device that has been installed on one of MOL’s newly built dry bulk wood chip carried. The companies carried out the first demonstration test of the device on October 27.
The microplastics collection device is activated during the operation of the ballast water treatment system typically during the cargo handling operations in a port. Using a filter with a backwashing function for the ballast water treatment, the device efficiently collects microplastics trapped in the filter before the treated water is discharged overboard.