The ship is fitted with laboratories and workshops that demonstrate how waste can be transformed into fuel, tiles, pipes and other reusable products.
by Blue Africa News
Kenya’s port of Mombasa is hosting Plastic Odyssey, a 40-meter vessel which is on a global voyage to promote solutions to plastic pollution.
Plastic Odyssey is an international project turning plastic waste into resources, through on-board recycling training programs.
The ship, operated by French Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Plastic Odyssey, is fitted with laboratories and workshops that demonstrate how waste can be transformed into fuel, tiles, pipes and other reusable products.
Some of the key features in the vessel include a pyrolysis unit that can convert non-recyclable plastics into up to 40 liters of fuel per hour, while extruders and shredders turn other waste into construction materials.
Its berthing at the port of Mombasa is part of the ship’s global tour which commenced in 2022, with Plastic Odyssey having sailed through the Mediterranean, West Africa, South America and Asia.
Its most recent port of call enroute to Mombasa was Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania. The ship’s Kenyan visit is being hosted by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
“The stopovers serve as mobile laboratories, where the crew works with local communities to develop small-scale recycling initiatives and raise awareness about reducing single-use plastics,” said KPA in a statement.
The mission, KPA noted, aligns with its Green Port Policy launched in 2015, to ensure sustainable operations and minimize environmental impacts.
“The policy covers initiatives such as waste management, use of hybrid yard cranes, e-mobility forklifts, dust suppression systems, and mangrove restoration projects along the coastal belt.”
“We encourage meaningful partnerships to save the planet and preserve our ocean,” Plastic Odyssey stated in a separate statement.
The visit has been welcomed by various industry players, such as Surelift Solutions Limited, a human resources company.
“We believe in building sustainable futures — for businesses, communities, and our planet,” the company said, noting that the arrival of Plastic Odyssey in Mombasa is a “powerful reminder that innovation and collaboration can turn waste into opportunity.”
“Kudos to the Kenya Ports Authority and partners for championing green initiatives that not only protect our oceans but also empower local communities to create lasting change.”
Plastic Odyssey will be at the port for several days, hosting workshops and community outreach before continuing its East African tour.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News