Never Too Late: 5 Brilliant Technologies That Clean the Ocean

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Ever wonder what hope for the ocean really looks like? Every day, innovators around the world are proving it is not too late to clean the ocean. From massive offshore systems removing plastic by the ton, to clever river interceptors stopping pollution at its source, these groundbreaking technologies are turning the tide - and showing us what is possible when we work together. 

Here are five inspiring innovations helping to restore our oceans and protect marine life for generations to come.

How Technology Helps Clean the Ocean

Innovative clean-up technologies are transforming how we clean the ocean, tackling plastic pollution at the source and restoring marine ecosystems worldwide. Below, we explore five groundbreaking technologies making real progress to clean our waterways and make a difference that lasts.

1. The Ocean Cleanup: Tackling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

One of the most well-known initiatives is The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Their primary focus has been the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation zone of plastic debris located between Hawaii and California. 

Their system works by using a U-shaped floating barrier with a skirt hanging beneath it. This passive system is towed by two vessels, acting like an artificial coastline that concentrates floating plastic. 

The currents and waves push the plastic toward the barrier, and the U-shape funnels it into a retention zone. From there, support vessels periodically remove the collected plastic for recycling on land.

The deployment of their System 03, a massive barrier approximately 2,250 meters (7,382 feet) long, is a major milestone. This system is significantly larger than its predecessors, with about five times the capacity of System 002. It includes a permeable screen that allows marine life to pass through while trapping plastic. 

As of June 2024, The Ocean Cleanup claimed to have removed over 15 million kilograms (33 million pounds) of marine trash from both the ocean and key polluting rivers since 2019. 

Their ambitious goal is to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040, a testament to their dedication to helping clean the ocean. The project has garnered support from a wide range of partners, including major corporations and governments, showcasing the power of collaboration in tackling this global issue.

2. everwave: Stopping Plastic at the Source

While large-scale ocean clean-up is crucial, preventing plastic from entering the ocean in the first place is equally important. This is the core mission of everwave, a foundation that focuses on intercepting plastic waste in rivers. 

Their approach is based on a four-pillar strategy: Detect, Collect, Recycle, and Inspire. 

everwave uses a combination of waste collection boats and AI-powered drones to identify and collect plastic from polluted rivers. The AI algorithms help to locate pollution hotspots and categorize the type of waste, optimizing the clean-up efforts. 

Their waste collection boats, designed to be highly maneuverable, use barriers to accumulate the floating debris, preventing it from flowing downstream into the ocean.

Once collected, the waste is sorted at local facilities with the goal of recycling as much material as possible. everwave's projects are deployed in major river systems around the world that are known to be significant contributors to ocean plastic, such as the Mekong River in Cambodia and the Drin River in Albania. 

As of April 2025, everwave has collected over 2 million kilograms (4.4 million pounds) of waste from rivers. 

A notable partnership exists between everwave and SSI. Through the SSI Blue Oceans program, every new SSI Professional certified in 2025 contributes to the removal of three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of trash from rivers, directly supporting efforts to clean the ocean and protect marine ecosystems.

Find out more about everwave here: SSI and everwave: Partnering for Cleaner Oceans in 2025 

3. The Seabin: Keeping Marinas and Harbors Clean

Not all solutions need to be massive. The Seabin, developed in Australia, is a brilliant example of a smaller, localized solution. Designed to operate in calm waters like marinas, yacht clubs, and ports, the Seabin functions like a floating vacuum cleaner. 

It is a floating receptacle that is installed in the water and connected to a pump on the dock. The pump draws water into the Seabin, pulling in floating debris and even microplastics as small as 2 millimeters (0.08 inches). The water is filtered and then pumped back out, while the collected waste remains in a catch bag.

The device is highly effective at capturing plastics, oil, fuel, and detergents from the water's surface. 

Each Seabin has the potential to catch up to 1.4 kilograms (3 pounds) of floating debris per day, which can add up to over 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) per year. With thousands of Seabins now deployed in marinas around the world, this network of small-scale technology is making a significant collective impact, preventing countless pieces of plastic from reaching the open ocean.

Its discreet operation and effectiveness in high-traffic coastal areas make it a valuable tool in the mission to clean the ocean.

4. The Great Bubble Barrier: Blowing Bubbles to Block Plastic

Another ingenious approach to intercepting river plastic is The Great Bubble Barrier. This Dutch innovation uses a perforated tube laid on the bed of a river. Compressed air is pumped through the tube, creating a curtain of bubbles that rises to the surface. 

This bubble curtain works in two ways: it creates an upward flow that pushes plastic from the bottom and mid-water layers to the surface, and it also acts as a physical barrier that guides floating debris to a collection system at the side of the river.

The bubble barrier does not impede shipping traffic or marine life, as boats and fish can pass through it without issue. 

It has been successfully deployed in various locations, including Amsterdam's canals, where it has proven its ability to effectively capture plastic waste. 

A notable project in the Westerdok in Amsterdam has shown impressive results in preventing plastic from flowing out into the North Sea, proving that an invisible barrier can be a powerful tool to clean the ocean's waterways.

Want to do your bit, too? Read this: Join the Ocean Month Cleanup Challenge 2025 

5. The Interceptor: Solar Power Fighting River Pollution

The Interceptor, another brilliant innovation from The Ocean Cleanup, is a fully automated, solar-powered system designed to capture plastic from rivers before it can reach the sea. This technology is a key component of their dual-strategy approach. 

The Interceptor uses a long barrier to guide plastic waste flowing down the river onto a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt then deposits the waste into one of six large bins. When the bins are almost full, the system automatically alerts local operators, who then come to empty the waste and transport it to local recycling facilities.

The Interceptor is designed to be highly scalable and can operate in the majority of the world's most polluting rivers. 

For example, Interceptor 007 has been deployed in Ballona Creek in Los Angeles County, California, and other Interceptors are actively working in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. These autonomous systems can extract tens of thousands of kilograms of trash per day during peak seasons, making a substantial difference in reducing the inflow of plastic into the ocean. 

The success of these systems relies on strong partnerships with local governments and waste management services to ensure the collected plastic is properly handled and recycled, truly helping to clean the ocean at its source.

Together, We Can Turn the Tide

These technologies prove it is never too late to clean the ocean. From offshore barriers to river interceptors, innovation is showing what is possible - and every step forward matters.

As divers, we see the ocean’s beauty and fragility firsthand. Supporting these solutions, sharing their stories, and making sustainable choices every day is how each of us can help.

The tide is turning - and you can be part of it.

Dive With Purpose: Join SSI Blue Oceans

Be part of the change. Join the SSI Blue Oceans movement and discover how you can protect the ocean, inspire others, and make every dive count.

Learn more and join SSI Blue Oceans today