Founded in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organisation led by Dutch inventor Boyan Slat with a mission to get rid of plastics from the world’s ocean through the usage of advanced technology. This led to the creation of a solar-powered autonomous river cleaner called The Interceptor.
The Interceptor 002 has been operational in the Klang River, which has been deemed as one of the most polluted rivers in the world, since 2019. Soon, Malaysia will receive another Interceptor that is funded by the British band, Coldplay.
The Interceptor 005 which has also been called Neon Moon 1 is currently being built by the Finnish crane manufacturer, Konecranes at its MHE-Demag facility in Klang alongside Interceptor 006. These third-generation Interceptors come packed with several upgrades including a wider conveyor belt, barge, and dumpsters as well as a new catamaran structure and improved solar energy system.
Expected to be completed by the middle of this year, The Ocean Cleanup has not yet revealed the exact operational area for the Neon Moon 1. Nevertheless, the organisation has stated its commitment to deploy the new autonomous river cleaner as soon as possible.
(Source: The Ocean Cleanup, Coldplay.)
