test

Tag: aqua-drone

WasteShark Launches in Breda’s Historic Canals

8 Sept 2025 – RanMarine is proud to announce the official launch of our WasteShark autonomous surface vessel in the canals of Breda, Netherlands, marking a significant milestone in our mission to clean waterways using cutting-edge technology.
The launch ceremony took place on Monday 8th September, with Councillor Carla Kranenborg-Van Eerd (Economy and Digitalisation) and Councillor Peter Bakker (Nature Development) officially launching the project in the historic singels (canals) of Breda.

Beyond Waste Collection
The WasteShark deployment in Breda represents more than traditional waste collection. Working alongside educational and business partners, the vessel is being developed into a multifunctional water management tool capable of monitoring water quality and detecting pollution sources.
The project showcases Breda’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, forming part of the city’s robust robotics cluster. Students from Curio and Avans universities are actively involved in developing applications that align with European objectives, including the Water Framework Directive coming into force in 2027.
Robert der Kinderen, Head of Distribution at RanMarine, commented: “We’re pleased and excited to be working with Gemeente Breda in North Brabant. This partnership demonstrates how autonomous technology can address real environmental challenges whilst fostering collaboration between government, education, and industry.”
Councillor Carla Kranenborg-Van Eerd said: “The WasteShark is a beautiful example of how we apply technology in Breda in a way that helps people. We want to be a city where applied technology and creativity contribute to wellbeing, future resilience and economic growth. This project brings together government, entrepreneurs, education and technology. Breda brings it together, and you can literally see that in action here.”
Councillor Peter Bakker highlighted the environmental benefits: “The quality of our water is under pressure, while a healthy and clean living environment is essential for people and nature. With this type of technology, we are taking concrete steps in sustainable maintenance of our city. The WasteShark contributes directly to that.”

The Breda deployment involves key partners including Breda Robotics (project management), Curio and Avans (knowledge development), and Rabobank (financial support for sensor technology).

The WasteShark continues RanMarine’s mission to protect aquatic environments through innovative, sustainable technology solutions.

Councillor Carla Kranenborg-Van Eerd (l) and Councillor Peter Bakker launch the Breda WasteShark

The sharks biting back against pollution

By Inside Marine 2025-04-02

Netherlands-based RanMarine Technology is on a mission to clean up the world’s waters with its innovative autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and collaborative ventures. Founder and CEO Richard Hardiman shared the company’s progress during an in-depth interview with Inside Marine.


RanMarine’s ASVs are paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future for our waterways. “RanMarine was established in 2016 with a clear mission to rid our waters of plastic,” explained Founder
and CEO Richard Hardiman. “While we began with a focused goal, our technology has since evolved, allowing us to address broader aquatic environmental challenges.”

To view the whole story ⤵️

issuu_InsideMarine_RanMarineTechnology2502Download

RanMarine’s Subscription Model Takes to Yorkshire waters

4/7/24 Leeds, UK – RanMarine is pleased to announce the deployment of our innovative WasteShark in the Leeds Waterfront. In collaboration with Canal Connections, this initiative marks a significant milestone for both RanMarine and the UK’s environmental efforts, leveraging our cutting-edge technology to provide continuous and efficient water cleaning services through a subscription model.

WasteShark Launch in Leeds – 🎦@nationalworldlocaltv – Daily Motion

A Yorkshire First:

– Technological Innovation: The WasteShark features advanced GPS, LIDAR collision avoidance technology, and a camera, making it a state-of-the-art tool for waterway maintenance.

– Data Collection: This initiative will be the first in Yorkshire to systematically record the types and quantities of waste collected.

– Canal Rivers Trust Approval: This project is the first use of such technology approved by the Canal Rivers Trust on Yorkshire waterways.

– Social Impact: Partnering with Canal Connections, this project involves local communities in sustainability efforts.

Support and Collaboration:

The Leeds Waterfront Group, part of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Property and Economic Forum, spearheaded this project with support from local businesses, Leeds City Council, and Leeds Civic Trust. Paul Ellison, Chair of the Leeds Waterfront Group, stated, “We are very pleased to have put this innovative project together. It will generate real benefits for the city and highlight the importance of keeping our waterways clean and attractive.”

Project Supporters and Sponsors:

This initiative is co-funded by several organizations, including Addleshaw Goddard, Biffa Waste Services, Bupa Foundation, CPW, Leeds Creative District, Iseepr, Leeds City Council, Leeds Civic Trust, Mott Macdonald, Vastint UK, VTR North, and Yorkshire Design Group. Canal Connections will manage the WasteShark’s operations, while Biffa Waste Services will handle waste recycling and disposal. KISS Branding has contributed expert design support.

About RanMarine WasteShark:

Inspired by the whale shark, the WasteShark collects up to 500kg of waste per day from the water’s surface. Powered by electric motors, it operates remotely or autonomously, making it an eco-friendly solution for water pollution. RanMarine, headquartered in Rotterdam, specialises in innovative aquatic drones designed to clean and maintain water bodies. This collaboration signifies both a technological solution and a commitment to preserving our waterways for future generations.

WasteShark robot to clean Yorkshire canals and rivers

By Elizabeth Baines, @EKBaines, BBC News

A robotic drone is being used to clean up the waterways in Leeds.

The cutting-edge technology has been developed in the Netherlands and is the first of its kind to be used in Yorkshire in the UK, according to the Leeds Waterfront group.

The robot swims along waterways and can scoop up to 500kg of waste from the surface through a wide mouth, hence it being named the Waste Shark.

The chairman of the Leeds Waterfront Group Paul Ellison said the aim was to “enhance the rivers” in the city, which were often “forgotten about and neglected”.

Mr Ellison said the robot was inspired by a whale shark.

“That has a big wide mouth which it opens to feed, in the same way waste gets caught inside its mouth,” he said.

The drone, called a WasteShark, is powered by electric motors and directed via a remote control from the riverside.

It is equipped with GPS, collision avoidance technology and a camera.

“Everyone wants to see action being taken, waste collects in certain areas in Leeds and there is an amazing amount of wildlife in the river now,” Mr Ellison said.

“We want to prevent any of that being digested by wildlife and also to prevent the rubbish, and to prevent it going further beyond the city and out into the sea.”

He said weekly data would be collected to show how much waste is being removed from the water.

It will also record the types of waste being collected.

The project is also the first use of the technology to be approved by the Canal and Rivers Trust.

Becca Dent, from the charity, said it was important to work in “new” and “innovative ways” to remove litter from the waterways.

“It can be quite challenging, unfortunately millions of pieces of litter end up in our waterways.

“We’ve got birds that live along here, otters, and water voles.

“I’ve seen a moorhen trying to make a nest out of a trolley and crisp packets, so it’s really good to see the waste removed.”

Original story by the BBC > https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy08y3zglklo

US Embassy invests more than US$172 thousand to clean up Lake Ilopango

Written by Alejandra García Ortiz  
Original story translated

The United States Embassy in El Salvador, through its Military Group, invested US$172,722 to clean Lake Ilopango, demonstrating its commitment to protecting this important body of water, which can generate greater attraction for residents and international tourists.

In this sense, the money was used to acquire three “WasteShark” aquatic cleaning drones, which are designed to completely clean the area and guarantee the health of the inhabitants and visitors to the lake.

Likewise, these devices will be used to keep the waters of Lake Ilopango free of garbage and contribute to its preservation. Additionally, this collaboration with the United States Embassy can attract international attention and highlight El Salvador’s efforts to preserve its natural resources.

Likewise, the Minister Counselor, Katherine Dueholm said “A clean lake is not simply a beautiful landscape, but it is also a lifeline for the communities that live nearby. A clean lake ensures the health and well-being of people by being a sustainable source of water for various domestic uses, thus protecting public health.

Investment in cleaning Lake Ilopango can enhance its tourist attraction by improving water quality, ensuring public health, promoting community development and projecting a positive image of El Salvador as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination.



United States Embassy donates aquatic drones to clean Lake Ilopango

The United States Embassy in El Salvador yesterday donated three aquatic cleaning drones, known as “Wasteshark“, to the mayor’s office of San Salvador Este, to keep Lake Ilopango free of solid waste and protect the ecosystem there.

by Mariela Quintanilla

 June 13, 2024

Reading time: 3 mins read   translated from original article as published on https://diarioelsalvador.com/

The donation was delivered by Katherine Dueholm, Minister Counselor of the United States of America Embassy, ​​which entails an investment of $172,722, and was received by Mayor José Chicas.

Dignitories incl Minister Counselor of the United States Embassy, ​​Katherine Dueholm, and the mayor of San Salvador Este, José Chicas, were present at the event

Dueholm expressed that this contribution reaffirms the commitment of the United States Government to supporting the country in environmental sustainability and public health.

“We have all seen how garbage accumulates in Lake Ilopango, how plastic bottles and bags float on the surface, and how these remains damage the environment, that is why this donation is so important because the “Wastesharks” that we are donating can navigate the surface of the lake efficiently collecting garbage so that it does not stay there contaminating the water and endangering the health of Salvadorans,” said Dueholm.

The aquatic drones can move manually up to 500 meters in Lake Ilopango, and autonomously up to 5 kilometers, explained Hernán Ramírez, technician in charge of the drones.

For his part, Mayor José María Chicas explained that the interventions with said equipment in the body of water will begin in the Ilopango sector, and will later move to Joya Grande and Santiago Texacuangos. “These are the areas that are need the most focuse,” he added.

“This is a tool that we had been requesting from the United States embassy for several years, and fortunately, based on the United States Southern Command program, the donation of the three drones became effective,” Chicas explained.

The diplomatic headquarters explained that the drone model delivered yesterday is designed for efficient operations that are based on pre-established mission routes and that ensures complete cleaning of the area.

In addition, the mechanism allows that once the drone collects all the garbage, it can be recycled into the corresponding man-made waste and waste deposits.

According to the mayor of  San Salvador Este, currently cleaning sessions are carried out in Lake Ilopango every 15 days, and with the donation they received they will be able to improve the cleaning work, because this equipment allows the cleaning to be saved and carried out again. Mission routes will be established to maintain a constant cleaning day.

“[The drones] are going to be of immense benefit to the beautiful nature of El Salvador. As we face the reality of climate change and increasingly reaffirm the vital role that water plays for people’s well-being, the care of bodies of water becomes a priority,” he said during the drone delivery ceremony with the official of the United States embassy.

Two WasteSharks trawling Maldives Waters

🌊 Exciting news from RanMarine! We’re thrilled to announce that we’re training the first recipients of two WasteSharks in the archipelagic paradise of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Huge thanks to the State Trading Organization plc for facilitating placements with Malé City and the Maldives Airports Company Limited – MACL.

Waters near Maldives Airport

CEO & MD Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed and Mohamed Lam’aan (DMD) and Mujthaba Latheef (DMD) officiated the use of ocean clean-up drone. The WasteShark will aim to keep the water aerodromes and its surrounding lagoon free from ocean debris and a 2nd will clean Male City.

RanMarine Showcases Innovative Solutions at 2024 Dutch Blue Flag Awards

[IJSSELSTEIN, May 20th, 2024] – RanMarine proudly displayed its latest innovations at the prestigious 2024 Blue Flag Awards, held at the picturesque Jachthaven Marnemoende harbour. The event provided an ideal backdrop to present RanMarine’s electric-powered vessels, designed for cleaning and collecting floating waste from water and offered a sneak peek of the upcoming MegaShark multi-platform product.

The Blue Flag Awards ceremony, hosted jointly by the harbour and the Municipality of IJsselstein, honoured excellence in environmental sustainability, recognising outstanding efforts in maintaining clean and safe beaches and marinas. This year, a record-breaking 200 Blue Flags were awarded to various locations across the Netherlands, including 143 marinas, 50 beaches, and 7 inland beaches.

RanMarine’s participation reiterated its commitment to providing cutting-edge technological solutions that enhance water cleanliness and preserve natural aquatic environments. “We are privileged to have had the opportunity to present our technologies at the 2024 Blue Flag Awards, showcasing our dedication to sustainability and clean water initiatives,” said Bart de Vries, Chief Operating Officer at RanMarine. “Our range of electric-powered vessels, our ability to monitor water quality data via various sensor arrays, and the MegaShark preview epitomise RanMarine’s commitment to innovating environmental stewardship. The agile and fully autonomous WasteShark is tailored for marinas and harbours, while our latest addition, the MegaShark, offers both seated onboard operation and remote control steering for tackling larger tasks.”

MegaShark generated considerable interest and discussions with harbour masters and attendees focused on expanding its deployment applications to match client needs and create a healthier aquatic environment. RanMarine welcomes these inputs, enhancing the company’s ability to build better platforms.

Erik van Dijk, national coordinator of Blue Flag Netherlands, emphasised the importance of sustainable practices: “The Blue Flag has been flying in the Netherlands since the late 1980s. In 2009, we had 100; now, 15 years later, we’ve doubled that. This growth reflects the hard work of marinas and beach municipalities to meet our criteria. Sustainable practices are increasingly important. The addition of 13 new marinas shows a commitment to high-quality services, and RanMarine’s technology is well-suited to support these efforts.”

The event marked the next significant milestone in RanMarine’s journey towards advancing water cleanliness and sustainability efforts. The company remains steadfast in its mission to provide efficient and eco-friendly solutions for cleaner waterbodies and waterways.

**About RanMarine:**

RanMarine is a leading provider of electric-powered vessels designed for water cleaning and environmental sustainability. Focused on innovation and technology, RanMarine aims to revolutionise water-cleaning solutions for a cleaner and healthier planet.

Active in over 25 countries, RanMarine’s autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) efficiently remove floating waste and algae from waterways. Their clients include Walt Disney, Hudson River Park, PortsToronto, Babcock Marine Naval Bases UK, and Port of Houston. The WasteShark ASV can operate both autonomously and manually, while the MegaShark ASV, offering five times the capacity, will launch in mid-2024 and support onboard operation. The OilShark ASV, designed for rapid and agile deployment in capturing mid-scale hydrocarbon residues, is expected to be available by the end of 2024.

RanMarine’s ASVs can be equipped with over 15 sensors for customised data collection, offer quick deployment, and reduce costs by up to 80% compared to traditional methods. All mission and water quality data are stored and accessible through the RanMarine Connect portal.

For more information, visit:

Website: www.ranmarine.io
Facebook: @RanMarineTechnology
Instagram: @ranmarinetechnology
X/Twitter: @RanMarineTech
LinkedIn: @ranmarine

**About KMVK (Keurmerk Milieu, Veiligheid en Kwaliteit):**

The Blue Flag is a prestigious international award given annually to beaches and marinas that meet stringent environmental management, safety, water quality, education, and waste management criteria. In the Netherlands, this is managed by the Stichting KMVK.
For more information about the objectives and the beaches and marinas with a Blue Flag, please visit www.blauwevlag.nl

Smart Cities Embrace Autonomous Surface Vessels for Waterway Clean-up

Axis Global Comms – United Arab Emirates

Dubai city lights on water at night

Image: Dubai, UAE

Across the globe, urban centers designated as “smart cities” are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technologies to address the complex challenges of urban waterway management. Among the most promising innovations is the Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV), a robotic solution poised to revolutionize how cities maintain the health and cleanliness of their canals, rivers, harbors, and other aquatic environments.

ASVs represent a significant leap forward from traditional waterway maintenance methods, which are often costly, labor-intensive, and environmentally disruptive. These vessels are designed to autonomously navigate urban waterways, removing floating debris, controlling unwanted biomass, and contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal of the cityscape. Their compact size and remarkable maneuverability allow them to access areas that are difficult or impossible for larger boats or manual cleaning crews to reach, such as narrow canals, under bridges, and around moored vessels.

Beyond their impressive cleaning capabilities, ASVs offer a wide range of potential benefits for smart city initiatives. One of the most exciting possibilities is their capacity to serve as mobile platforms for environmental monitoring. Equipped with a suite of sensors, these vessels could collect valuable data on water quality parameters such as temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. This information would provide city managers and environmental agencies with a more comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the health of their waterways, enabling them to make more informed decisions about pollution control, resource management, and infrastructure investments.

The likely ability to gather detailed water quality information using ASVs represents a significant step forward in urban environmental management. This potential for data collection aligns perfectly with the smart city ethos of leveraging technology to improve decision-making and optimize resource allocation.

In addition to their environmental and data-gathering benefits, ASVs offer economic advantages for cities. Their autonomous operation reduces the need for human labor, leading to lower operating costs and greater efficiency. ASVs can operate near continuously, well beyond the standard 9-to-five model, allowing for consistent waterway maintenance without the constraints of traditional work schedules. This continuous operation can be particularly valuable in cities with busy waterways that require constant attention.

Image: WasteShark in Delft canals, the Netherlands

Furthermore, the use of ASVs can enhance the image of a city as a forward-thinking and environmentally responsible destination. Clean, healthy waterways contribute to the overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike, boosting tourism, property values, and civic pride. By investing in ASV technology, smart cities can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and innovation, attracting businesses, talent, and investment.

The adoption of ASVs is still in its initial stages, but the potential benefits are clear. As technology advances and cities continue to embrace the smart city model, ASVs are likely to play an increasingly important role in urban waterway management. These robotic vessels represent a promising solution for creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments for generations to come.

As cities grapple with the challenges of urbanization, climate change, and environmental degradation, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater. ASVs offer a unique combination of environmental, economic, and social benefits, making them a valuable asset for any smart city seeking to improve the health and sustainability of its waterways. These vessels are not just cleaning up trash; they are helping to build a brighter, more sustainable future for urban communities around the world.

5 uses for drones including Ocean clean-up efforts

When equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies, unmanned aerial systems – most commonly called drones – can provide crucial insights for waste and recycling facilities. While drones can aid in tasks such as site surveys and material volume estimation for recyclers, their role also extends beyond facility walls to help identify illegal dumpsites, map ocean waste, and more. This transformative technology not only streamlines processes within the recycling and waste management sectors, but also fosters cleaner environments and greener practices overall. 

Other benefits of drones also include improved worker safety and increased labour savings. By using drones in place of human workers, operating expenses can be significantly reduced, resulting in more cost-effective operations. Drones have the added advantage of being able to navigate and collect data from areas that are usually hazardous or out of reach to humans, eliminating the need for human workers to access these sites.

While still considered an emerging technology in some applications, embracing drones contributes significantly to the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of recycling operations. Read on to find out five ways that drones are gaining traction as a key piece of technology in recycling and waste management applications.

Site mapping

While drones play a part in all kinds of recycling applications, they’ve found a particularly important role in scrapyards. Drones can quickly survey large areas, utilizing remote sensing and advanced imaging technologies to identify metal types, quantities, and their precise locations. The aerial perspectives offered by drones are instrumental in mapping scrapyards, assisting in inventory management, optimizing layout planning, and enhancing overall productivity.

On the waste management front, landfills also see significant benefits from the utilization of drones as the high-resolution aerial images are valuable for mapping landfill sites and calculating landfill capacity. Equipped with advanced technology such as LiDAR, drones can create detailed 3D maps of facilities, providing insights into the layout, volume, and best utilization of space within the landfill. 

Monitoring methane emissions

Since methane is both colourless and odourless to humans, drones are being equipped with thermal cameras and deployed at waste facilities to monitor methane emissions from a safe distance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandates that landfills address methane concentrations over 500 parts per million and has recently approved the first drone for methane emissions monitoring. The SnifferDRONE by Sniffer Robotics collects air samples through a nozzle, pumps them to an onboard detector, measures the methane concentration, and reports leak source locations – including GPS coordinates – with 90 percent accuracy.

There have also been increased drone initiatives in Canada, with the government recently providing the Comox Valley Regional District in British Columbia with $51,000 to use drones for methane monitoring. The goal of this effort is to assist landfill workers in assessing the effectiveness of the technology, determine the advantages and challenges in the adoption of drones, and offer practical examples of how they can be integrated into existing operations.

Illegal dumping enforcement

Already used in Dublin, Ireland, and multiple cities across the UK, more and law enforcement agencies are deploying drones equipped with cameras to surveil areas prone to illegal dumping. Drones bolster enforcement efforts by providing efficient evidence collection and thorough documentation of violations that are vital for investigations, while also acting as a general deterrent through their presence alone.

Beyond documentation, drones provide a cost-effective surveillance solution by covering expansive or hard-to-reach areas with minimal human labour requirements. Data gathered by drones also enables law enforcement to track dumping patterns and stay ahead of them.

Drones equipped with thermal cameras can monitor methane emissions from a safe distance.

Fire prevention

When equipped with thermal cameras, drones can identify hot spots that may indicate potential fire hazards. The real-time monitoring provided by drones also allows for the quick detection of signs of fire, enabling proactive measures to be taken.

One of the most effective examples of this technology is in Australia, where a fire prevention program targeting high-risk recycling and waste facilities was launched in 2021. As part of this, drones equipped with thermal imaging technology conduct random flyovers during the summer months to check for hot spots and ensure waste piles are being properly managed. Between November 2022 and October 2023, the officers carried out 380 fire prevention inspections at waste and recovery facilities, fining five facilities and issuing 117 remedial notices and four official warnings.

Ocean clean-up efforts

With plastic pollution affecting oceans and shorelines worldwide, there’s a lot of ground to cover – too much to cover on foot. By combining the power of drones with artificial intelligence, organizations are leveraging these tools to combat waste and pollution in the environment. One of these initiatives, the Plastic Tide, is a volunteer-based project that uses drone imagery of coastlines to train its AI algorithm to identify and map plastic debris. To improve the algorithm’s accuracy, a steady stream of drone images is needed to help distinguish between plastic and other coastal life. This has resulted in a database of over 7,000 images which allows others to develop strategies for tackling these hot spots and tailor their clean-up processes accordingly. The organization hopes that one day the database can be used to guide autonomous recovery vehicles as well.

Another key player in drone-based water cleanup efforts is the WasteShark by RanMarine, an aquatic drone that captures garbage in waterways and brings it back to land. The drones can hold 160 litres of materials and are equipped to autonomously navigate through rivers, harbours, and canals, collecting floating debris and waste as they move. Integrated LiDAR technology enhances safety and avoids collisions. 

This convergence of drones and advanced technology represents a powerful force in the ongoing battle against plastic pollution, allowing for collaboration between humans, drones, and AI for a more sustainable future.

Barriers to adoption

While a hugely beneficial tool, the adoption of drones in recycling and waste management operations faces several interconnected challenges. Regulatory compliance, such as airspace restrictions and privacy concerns, represents a significant hurdle, complicating widespread adoption. The initial costs associated with buying drones, sensors, and software are barriers as well, especially for smaller facilities with limited budgets. 

Despite these challenges, the future of drones holds promise as advancements in technology, regulations, and overall public perception continue to evolve. Overcoming these barriers requires a coordinated effort between regulatory bodies, industry stakeholders, and technology developers to improve the overall chances of incorporating drones into recycling and waste management practices.

<Original article published https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/41556/5-uses-for-drones-in-recycling-and-waste-management >