Marlink supports Plastic Odyssey, the global expedition to reduce plastic pollution in the sea and on land
World’s first floating lab to use discarded plastic as fuel will embark on a three-year global expedition to publicise low-tech, open-source recycling solutions
Oslo and Paris, 26.09.2022 – Marlink, the smart network solutions company, is helping to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans by supporting the global Plastic Odyssey expedition with smart connectivity solutions.
Plastic Odyssey is the world’s first floating laboratory vessel dedicated to plastic waste recycling. The ship will use recycling solutions, including pyrolysis, to convert plastic to fuel as well as acting as local recycling unit, showcasing waste reduction initiatives and promoting new thinking around plastic use.
Marlink will provide a free hybrid solution that combines Sealink’s VSAT connectivity with global 4G roaming and a package of innovative solutions, including the use of the XChange platform for smart connectivity management. The Plastic Odyssey will be equipped with a 1-metre VSAT antenna and an L-band backup solution. For crew safety, the Telemed service will be provided for remote healthcare care.
Marlink chose to support this global initiative for environmental sustainability as it closely aligns with its own company-wide targets to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and pollution on land and at sea. Its connectivity solutions enable owners to optimise voyages to manage fuel consumption and report emissions data for regulatory compliance.
Plastic Odyssey’s vessel was acquired in October 2019 and underwent complete overhaul including asbestos removal and hull strengthening before its scheduled departure on October 1. Its three-year global journey will call at 30 main ports covering 40,000 nautical miles along the coasts of Africa, South America and Asia-Pacific. The project will also encourage coastal cities to use plastic waste as a raw material in into local micro-factories, transforming it into building materials and fuel with low-tech and easily transferable technologies.
Plastic Odyssey is truly grateful to Marlink for its support of this project and its commitment to helping us reduce, reuse and recycle plastic around the world, said Simon Bernard, CEO, Plastic Odyssey. Its innovative solutions will keep the ship connected, enabling us to share updates and video with supporters - and keeping us in touch with shore in case assistance is required.
At Marlink we share the aims and objectives of the Plastic Odyssey team. Pollution is not just a threat to the oceans on which our customers depend; it threatens the future health of our planet’s ecosystem, said Erik Ceuppens, CEO of Marlink. As a shipping industry stakeholder, we have a responsibility to work towards the minimising and ultimately the removal of marine pollution of all kinds.
About Plastic Odyssey
Plastic Odyssey aims to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean while creating a global network of local recycling initiatives. The project is supported by various actors who all share the desire to build a world in which plastic waste does not end up in the Ocean.
www.plasticodyssey.org/en/
About Marlink
Marlink is the trusted partner in fully managed smart network solutions, based on an intelligent hybrid network and unrivalled digital solutions.
The company provides Smart Network Solutions, connecting people and assets around the globe and across all markets where conventional connectivity cannot reach or is not available. Marlink’s Intelligent Hybrid Network combines global satcom and terrestrial technologies via a proprietary global infrastructure.
The Marlink Smart Edge, an integrated service delivery platform, orchestrates and optimises all network elements and applications, from data handling and IT to application-based routing (SD Wan), cloud and Digital Solutions, including remote data and IT, cyber security as well as IoT/OT solutions.
This provides customers with full ‘Peace of Mind’ that their chosen network solution is fully optimised, integrated and has the security required to operate more profitably and sustainably, increasing their efficiency and safety through operational optimisation, tracking and routing, monitoring and reporting.
Marlink’s Smart Network Solutions are provided as Managed Services meeting the highest quality standards and service level agreements. The company proactively monitors and supports network solutions, providing alerts, reporting and insights on performance and usage of connectivity, systems, and applications as well as advice and consultancy on how to further optimise customer networks.