Sewage and wastewater are generated aboard all ships, sometimes in large quantities.

Discharge of such waste into the ocean, port, or marina waters can include microplastic particles from toiletries, cosmetics, and from on-board laundering of synthetic textiles such as nylon, polyester, lycra, polysatin and spandex, which are widely used in marine applications. 

On July 13th, 2015, marine researchers agreed that such oceanic plastic pollution is best defined as aquatic plastic smog.

Plastic-free oceans, by Jose Luis Gutierrez-Garcia, Project Director, UpGyres, and Principal, Motoca Specific

Download PDF