York Marina, recently awarded a 5 Gold Anchor rating by The Yacht Harbour Association, is using a portable system to remove pollutants from its waters. The aim is to manage everyday contamination and maintain environmental standards across the site.
Produced by Wave International, the Wavecleaner VAC removes oil, diesel residue, floating debris and microplastics from the water and allows staff to respond more directly to minor spills and surface pollution that can build up through daily marina activities such as refuelling, engine use and bilge discharge.
Phil Robinson, head of marina management at York Marina, said: “Like every marina, we occasionally get minor oil or diesel spills. Until now, we’ve used standard emergency spill kits using booms and pads to clean up. However, once used, these are heavy and cumbersome to move and dispose of, requiring a specialist company. This results in high disposal costs, and as they come at a cost to restock, these expenses are either passed onto the customer, the insurance company or carried by the marina.”
The Wavecleaner VAC takes in contaminated water and passes it through a strainer and two filtration units, which remove pollutants, including microplastics, before the water is returned to the marina or drainage system.
The unit runs on a 12V rechargeable battery without the need for a fixed power connection. It has a flow rate of 22 litres per minute, with a lift capacity of up to 3 metres and a discharge head of up to 40 metres.
Robinson added: “The Wavecleaner VAC is a useful addition to our resources, and is a key part of meeting our environmental protection policies. As a compact mobile unit, it’s great for transporting around the marina. It can also be mounted on a small boat to reach the outer areas where access to the water is limited. The independent power pack means there are no cables or need for mains plug in when it’s in use. Using the Wavecleaner VAC means it’s also much easier to dispose of contaminants simply by periodically changing the filter when required.”
