Project Kaisei is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco and Hong Kong, established to increase the understanding and the scale of marine debris, its impact on our ocean environment, and how we can introduce solutions for both prevention and clean
The main focus is on the North Pacific Gyre, which constitutes a large accumulation of debris in one of the largest and most remote ecosystems on the planet. To accomplish these objectives, Project Kaisei is serving as a catalyst to bring together public and private collaborators to design, test and implement break-throughs in science, prevention and remediation.
Kaisei means “Ocean Planet” in Japanese, and is the name of the iconic tall ship that was one of the two research vessels in the August expedition. The other was the New Horizon, a Scripps Oceanography vessel that was arranged via a new collaboration between Project Kaisei and Scripps to provide additional research on the impacts of debris in the gyre. Each vessel obtained a wide variety of samples from this part of the ocean which are now being analyzed. What was evident was the pervasiveness of small plastic debris that was found in every surface sample net that was used for regular sampling over 3,500 miles between the two vessels
Project Kaisei will launch its second Expedition to the North Pacific Gyre in August, where it will send multiple vessels to continue marine debris research, and in particular, to test an array of marine debris collection systems. Debris collected will be used to further study the feasibility of converting this to fuel or other useable material.
My gal Janine is one of the main organizers of this voyage. She is working along side a hand-picked crew to prepare the ship for this three-week venture. Here are a few shots of the ship in port in the San Francisco bay area. Project Kaisai plans on returning through San Diego for the start of the tall ships festival in September and then back to San Francisco.
Kansai in full sail.
This is where the shit is.
Some harbors look lie this. Mostly from storm drain trash from streets.
Another boat down the dock.
Next door this 1940s tug boat being refurbished by a group of guys.
Neighbor boats at the dock.
Neighbor boats at the dock.
Janine next to the ship.
Japanese for go collect some shit in the ocean.
Arg matey.
Yea, it really has big ropes (lines).
This is their location as of August 25th.