SeaClear 2.0: Will conduct a pilot test at the Port of Tarragona

Project leader:

Consortium formed by 13 partners, led by the University of Delft (TÚ Delft).
Técnicas y Obras Subacuáticas TECNOSUB, a member of SOM-INN PUERTO, is a partner in this project together with, in addition to the aforementioned Dutch University of Delft, the Dunea Regional Agency (Croatia), Fraunhofer (Germany); Hamburg Port Authority (Germany), Isotech (Cyprus), M. Danchor (Israel), Subsea Tech (France), Technische Universitaet Muenchen (Germany), University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Veolia (France) and Venice Lagoon Plastic Free (Italy).

The Port Authority of Tarragona supports the project as a facilitator.

Project description:

The SeaClear 2.0 Project was submitted to the call “Preventing and eliminating pollution of our oceans, seas and waters (HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-03)” within the EU programme “Horizon Europe Framework program (HORIZON)“, and was selected to receive European funds for its development.

The project consists of the creation of a team of robots capable of collecting rubbish from the sea surface and from the deepest areas of the Mediterranean.

The researchers working on this project are not the first to create robots of this kind. That is why this new autonomous robotic system builds on the success of its predecessor.

This new team of robots uses aerial drones, underwater rovers, autonomous surface vessels and custom-built grippers. Equipped with artificial intelligence, they are able to identify, identify and pick up rubbish autonomously.

Improvements to ‘SeaClear 2.0’ will increase the accuracy of debris detection using high-resolution sonar and various types of sensors. The collection capacity will be increased thanks to an intelligent and manoeuvrable robotic grapple that can lift all kinds of items up to 250kg and to depths of approximately 100m.

With the addition of a new assistance vessel, which has adjustable dividing chambers, the aim is to transport bulkier and lumpier rubbish than the existing version is capable of moving.

As for the rubbish found on the sea surface, it will be collected by means of mobile equipment that will be able to work in delimited, shallow areas.

The project aims to highlight the fact that some 500 million tonnes of plastics end up in the sea every year.

To corroborate the success of the ‘SeaClear 2.0’ project, three pilot tests will be carried out at three different points in the Mediterranean. Port of Tarragona will host the last pilot, where the full potential of the robotic system is expected to be demonstrated. The Port Authority of Tarragona supports this project as a facilitator since the objectives of this project are fully aligned with the Port of Tarragona’s Sustainability Plan.

To corroborate the success of the ‘SeaClear 2.0’ project, three pilot tests will be carried out in three different parts of the Mediterranean. The Port of Tarragona will host the last pilot, where it is expected to be able to demonstrate the full potential of the robotic system. The Port Authority of Tarragona supports this project as a facilitator given that the objectives of this project are fully aligned with the Sustainability Plan of the Port of Tarragona.

TECNOSUB’s role in the project is focused on the actual application of the system in the Port of Tarragona and on carrying out market and commercialization studies.
The project started in January 2023 and will end in December 2026.

This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program with a total project budget of €9,086,305.00, of which €7,971,863.50 is funded by the EU.

Project objectives:

• Prevent and reduce marine litter pollution, especially plastics and microplastics in the Mediterranean.
• Creation of autonomous robots for the identification and collection of trash from the seabed.
• Empower citizens through participatory activities that report the existence of marine litter, clean-ups, exhibitions and artistic installations.
• Propose sorting and recycling solutions, and work with local communities to address gaps in current policies.

Expected benefits of the innovation:

• Fight against the dumping of waste into the seas that causes marine pollution, integrating cutting-edge technology and increasing the value of recovered waste, contributing to the formulation of science-based policies.
• Increase public awareness.

Project information links:
Home – SEACLEAR (seaclear-project.eu)

Publication date: May 18, 2023