A groundbreaking Norwegian innovation, the Aquadrone, is making strides in the global fight against marine pollution. Recently deployed in Trondheim’s harbor, this state-of-the-art drone is designed to collect waste from the water’s surface, offering a promising solution for cleaner, safer marine environments. Already operational in Singapore, the Aquadrone demonstrates potential as a worldwide tool in combating growing environmental challenges.
Bjørnar Horsgård, maritime leader at Trondheim Harbor, expressed his enthusiasm for the technology, calling it “the future” of marine waste management. The drone, which functions similarly to robotic lawnmowers or vacuum cleaners, meticulously collects waste such as plastics and food wrappers from the water. “It’s designed to operate efficiently, gathering debris in the same way that a vacuum or lawn mower works,” Horsgård explained.
Once the Aquadrone completes its cleaning task, the collected waste is delivered to a partner robot, the Aquapod, which handles disposal. Gulleik Olsen, Operations Manager at Clean Sea Solutions, which oversees both the Aquadrone and Aquapod, explained that the initiative aims to prevent waste in harbors from spreading to the ocean. “We are stopping the waste in the harbor from advancing into the ocean,” Olsen said, emphasizing that marine pollution is one of the most urgent environmental issues today, as identified by the United Nations.
A partnership with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has allowed Clean Sea Solutions to refine the Aquadrone’s capabilities. Olsen highlighted that the goal is for the Aquadrone to eventually operate autonomously, from identifying debris to delivering it for disposal. Currently, human operators assist with navigation, but Olsen noted that advancements in the technology are rapidly moving toward full automation.
Karoline Andaur, Secretary General of WWF Norway, commended the Aquadrone initiative, calling it a vital contribution to tackling the growing plastic pollution crisis. According to the UN Environment Programme, between 9 and 14 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, with projections suggesting that plastic pollution could triple by 2040 if immediate actions are not taken. “We support all efforts to clean up ocean waste, whether from volunteers or businesses utilizing new technology,” Andaur said, praising the role of innovations like the Aquadrone.
The Trondheim project is just the beginning. If successful, plans are underway to expand the use of the Aquadrone to other harbor locations. While litter is not yet a significant issue in Trondheim’s harbor, Horsgård pointed out that the drone provides an efficient solution for managing even smaller debris. Beyond Norway, Clean Sea Solutions has already seen success with the Aquadrone in Singapore, further demonstrating its global potential in the battle against marine pollution.
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