UAE Presence Grows in the Maritime World
Over recent years the United Arab Emirates has emerged as an important maritime hub with grand ambitions. Mark Venables visited the region to discover what is driving that growth.When the UAE was elected to the IMO Council as a Category B member, it immediately raised its profile within the maritime community. The Emirates have taken a significant step forward in the maritime world.Despite this success, the region remains a challenging market for shipping and logistics. One of…
Kenya Craftsmen to Build Boat Out of Plastic Waste
The beaches of Kenya's idyllic Lamu island are dotted with traditional Swahili stone and coral houses, mansions built by European royalty, the odd donkey and, increasingly, tidal lines of plastic trash. When a resident organised a beach clean-up that collected 33 tons of rubbish in a single summer, British-Ethiopian safari organiser Ben Morrison decided he couldn't stand by while his beloved island was ruined. So the tall, bearded 42-year-old decided to try to design a traditional dhow…
Oceans Will Have More Plastic than Fish by 2050
The world’s oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050 if current business practices are continued, according to a report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Researchers warned 8 million metric tons of plastics currently find their way into the ocean every year - the equivalent of one truckload every minute. At current rates, this will worsen to four truckloads per minute in 2050 and outstrip native life to become the largest mass inhabiting the oceans. The report 'The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics' by the WEF and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which urges more recycling and reduced waste, goes on to note that the production of plastic materials has increased twentyfold since 1964.
Experts Assess Micro-plastics in Marine Environment
International experts have met in London to review the growing problems in the marine environment caused by micro-plastics – tiny pieces of plastic or fibers which may act as a pathway for persistent, bio-accumulating and toxic substances entering the food chain. The experts form a key working group (WG-40) under the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), an advisory body that advises the United Nations (UN) system on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the Administrative Secretariat of GESAMP, which has, to date…
TriStar Plastics Opens Midwest Facility
TriStar Plastics, a leader in engineered plastics solutions, announce the opening of a new, 7,000 square foot facility in Hoffman Estates, IL to enhance service to the Midwest region. The new location houses engineering, sales and distribution functions, and triples the size of the company’s previous Midwest facility. TriStar’s line of self-lubricating bearing materials serve in over 50 industries, including railroad, agriculture, marine, construction and military. The company is the exclusive US distributor of Rulon® bearing materials, and designs and fabricates CJ, Ultracomp®, and TriSteel™ bearings for a range of heavy-duty applications.
