The experimental research of additional energy consumption and exhaust gas emissions from use of marine litter collecting nets

Abstract

The problem of marine litter is one of the most important ecological problems in many countries. Lack of ecological consciousness and disregard for environmental regulations for marine pollution, results in increasing and sometimes even dangerous amounts of floating litter that either pollutes coastal areas or end up degrading into ever smaller particles and poisoning marine fauna. To solve this problem one of innovative marine litter collection nets – a light weight, easy to assemble was created. However marine litter collection would create additional trawling work which results in additional air pollutant emissions. It is there for necessary to evaluate the air pollutant emissions that occur during trawling of nets and aim to provide tools for ecological optimization of trawling work so that the least amounts of air pollution would be created while gathering the greatest amount marine litter. The special raft was designed and constructed for such nets test. The test was performed in Curonian lagoon. Marine litter collection requires additional energy consumption, because of increase of thug's engines power to overcome increase of nets resistance, that also leads to additional fuel consumptions and higher exhaust gas emissions. The article is based on experimental research of a light weight marine litter collection nets resistance measurement. Evaluation of additional energy consumption and increased exhaust gas emissions during trawling.