24 | WATERLINE September 2025 FEATURE DOCKSIDE UTILITIES INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS HELPING TO CLEAN UP OUR WATERWAYS By Suzanne Davies, CEO Marina Industries Association Water pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are increasingly choked with plastic debris, industrial waste, and other pollutants. To combat this crisis, innovators around the world continue to develop products and technologies aimed at collecting rubbish from waterways. These solutions range from high-tech robotic devices to simple yet effective barriers. Here's a look at some of the most notable we have noticed more recently. INVISIBUBBLE BY THE SEARIAL CLEANERS The InvisiBubble is a bubble curtain that creates a continuous stream of fine bubbles that rise from the marina floor to the water’s surface, creating a gentle upward current that keeps sediment particles suspended in the water, preventing them from settling on the marina floor. Bubble curtains contribute to improved water quality by trapping and directing floating debris, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants to designated collection areas. It helps to regulate eutrophication caused by run off through aeration and helps to increase water oxygen levels, reducing odour and improving conditions for sea life. The curtain has the added benefit of reducing sedimentation and erosion by redirecting sediment. searial-cleaners.com COLLEC’THOR BY THE SEARIAL CLEANERS Collec’Thor is a fixed waste collector that is installed at the water’s edge and/or on floating docks and offers a large storage capacity as well as being quick and easy to use. The system operates 24/7 and can hold up to 100kg (320 litres) of solid floating waste as well as liquid waste, including hydrocarbons and can also attract microplastics from 4 mm in size. Collec’Thor is a 100% green solution, doesn’t use a waste bag and offers waist-level emptying and cleaning for easy maintenance. searial-cleaners.com DPOL® BY EKKOPOL (DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY BY MARINE STRUCTURES) Ekkopol’s DPOL® (Durable Protection of Ocean Life) technology is an innovative, compact system designed to collect floating waste and hydrocarbons in marinas. The system operates autonomously 24/7, generating a surface current that continuously draws in both solid and liquid waste— including hydrocarbons—into a durable net. DPOL® requires no electronics, supervision, or complex installation and offers a low-maintenance and energy-free solution ideal for ports and marinas of all sizes. ekkopol.com THE INTERCEPTOR BY THE OCEAN CLEANUP Developed by the non-profit organisation The Ocean Cleanup, the Interceptor is a solar-powered, autonomous vessel designed to extract plastic waste from rivers before it reaches the ocean. It uses a conveyor belt system to scoop up trash and deposit it into onboard dumpsters, which are then emptied, and the waste is recycled. Currently deployed in several countries, the Interceptor can remove up to 50,000 kilograms of plastic per day. theoceancleanup.com SEABIN The Seabin is a floating rubbish bin designed for marinas, docks, and calm waters. It works by drawing in water from the surface using a submersible pump. As the water passes through a catch bag inside the bin, debris is trapped, and clean water is pumped back out. It can collect microplastics as small as 2mm and even absorb oils from the water, making it a dual-purpose cleaner. seabin.io MR. TRASH WHEEL A quirky but highly effective device, Mr. Trash Wheel is a water wheel-powered trash interceptor installed in Baltimore’s Inner Harbour. It uses a combination of solar and hydro power Collec’Thor Interceptor DPOL® Invisibubble Seabin
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