Press Release: Hamburg Port Authority hosts the 1st Live Showcase of groundbreaking innovation in autonomous marine litter detection and removal

The first live showcase of the SeaClear2.0 Robotic System, a groundbreaking innovation in autonomous marine litter detection and removal, was hosted by the Hamburg Port Authority on Thursday, 22nd May 2025, at Harburg-Werfthafen Canal, Hamburg.

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The exclusive first-ever showcase of the SeaClear2.0 Robotic System, offered a live demonstration of the AI-powered autonomous robots developed by the Seaclear2.0 project for in-situ mapping, detection, classification, and collection of marine litter from the seafloor and sea surface.

Our ocean contains roughly 25 million tons of plastic waste, approximately 94% of which is located on the sea floor. Every year, 150,000-500,000 tons of macroplastics and 70,000-130,000 tons of microplastics enter European waters and seas. Seabed marine litter detection is too costly, and areas of seabed pollution are often inaccessible. Through a combination of Unmanned Surface Vehicles, Remotely Operated Vehicles and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, the SeaClear2.0 robotic system can detect, classify, and collect marine litter from the seabed and water column. By integrating AI-driven algorithms, SeaClear2.0’s robots can efficiently identify and remove seabed debris from areas that are inaccessible or risky, with minimum human intervention; offering  an effective, safe and minimally invasive solution. Capable of operating at depths of up to 100 metres and lifting items weighing up to 250 kilograms, SeaClear2.0’s pioneering technological solutions represent a paradigm shift in ocean restoration.

During the Showcase, a select group of stakeholders from the fields of port management, maritime innovation, environmental policy, local governance, and waste management witnessed the SeaClear2.0 robotic system in action and had the opportunity to hear about the autonomous robots’ capabilities and functionalities from the SeaClear2.0 experts.

Within the framework of the live showcase ISOTECH Ltd hosted the participatory workshop “Defining Solutions and Policy Interventions for Addressing Marine Litter in Hamburgbringing together the targeted group of stakeholders present. Participants engaged in discussions on practical, site-specific measures to minimise and prevent marine litter in the wider Hamburg area, informed by insights from ISOTECH’s extensive work on marine litter policy across Europe.

About SeaClear2.0

Co-funded by the European Union, and contributing to the Mission Ocean targets, SeaClear2.0 (seaclear2.eu) is pioneering a fully autonomous system for marine litter removal, integrating drones, unmanned surface vehicles, remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and a smart robotic grapple. Beyond marine litter removal, parts of the system offer innovative applications for industry, including underwater asset identification and monitoring and environmental parameter monitoring. The project is a collaboration between research institutions, industry partners and civil society organizations from 9 countries.

For more information about the live showcase of the SeaClear2.0 Robotic System in Hamburg, please contact SeaClear2.0 Project Manager at Hamburg Port Authority, Matteo Schmid, matteo.schmid@hpa.hamburg.de or SeaClear2.0 Communications Lead, Demetra Kallitsi, at network@isotech.com.cy.
 

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