NSW Maritime to launch $1.8m rubbish cleaning boat

by Jeni Bone on 16 Jul 2011 A new $1.8m purpose-built, 16m flatbed boat is to be launched by NSW Maritime, to locate and improve trapping and removal of the floating litter and debris for disposal to relevant waste processing services. A competition to name the vessel will encourage school children to get onboard the clean up the harbour message, and the winning entry will win a harbour cruise for their school class.

The NSW Maritime Authority is responsible for removal of litter and hazards to navigation from the waters of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) and tributaries, Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers, public beaches and foreshores. Its Environmental Services (ES) team performs the task of cleaning these waters and foreshores, a surface area of 5020 hectares and with a combined foreshore length of 270km.

ES is currently the only effective means of handling Sydney Harbour’s storm water pollution, which has been found to be the source of floating litter, debris and other hazards to navigation, with an annual volume of 2800 Cubic Meters trapped and removed from Harbour waters and foreshores.

A key component of the ship’s twin hull design is its high pressure water jet system. Using the force of water, floating litter is 'vacuumed' into a capturing cage suspended between the ship's two hulls. A secondary row of high pressure water jets ensure that the captured litter cannot escape during vessel manoeuvering.

It is fitted with a hydraulic crane for rubbish retrieval. This gives the boat the capacity to retrieve large hazards such as trees, mooring piles and wharf structure components that may have fallen into the harbour.

The vessel is capable of being deployed in oil spill response and fire fighting scenarios, as it can deploy oil booms from its large working deck and support fire-fighting operations on shore.

Aiming to get kids onboard with the 'don’t litter our waterways' theme, NSW Maritime is conducting a competition to name the new vessel. In this context. 'The name should reflect the significant role that this vessel will have in delivering a visibly cleaner marine environment and reducing the risks that litter and waste impose on marine wildlife for Sydney Harbour,' says NSW Maritime.

The winning entry, which will be announced at the Sydney International Boat Show, will win for their entire class a four hour cruise on Sydney Harbour aboard the historic yacht 'Boomerang', part of the Sydney Heritage Fleet.
The Sydney Heritage Fleet now comprises 10 historical vessels which is amongst the largest such collection in Australia.

More details about the vessel and the competition at www.caring4yourharbour.com.au