Indian prodigy builds ‘intelligent ship’ to suck plastic off ocean’s floor
Ocean pollution is an enormous challenge and the hazardous effects of plastic pollution in the oceans have spurred many individuals, organizations and companies to develop ingenious methods and create innovative devices to tackle the problem.
Among the few environmentalists and scientists, a 12- year old Indian boy Haaziq Kazi is hogging the limelight for designing a ship named ERVIS that could clean up the waste out of the ocean’s surface.
Genius design
Two years ago, Haaziq Kazi, studying in Pune’s Indus International School in Grade 5 was dismayed by the magnitude of the plastic pollution in the oceans and the devastating ill-effects on the marine life and decided to design a ship to collect the waste from the oceans and clean it.
Since last year, Haaziq has been highlighting the hazards of ocean plastic pollution and measures to prevent it. He has been working with different people, organisations and forums to create public awareness for the same.
Recently, Haaziq Kazi was one of the speakers at the TEDxGateway event in Mumbai where he received applause for his genius design as well as his take on the ocean’s plastic pollution. Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Haaziq Kazi shed light on his innovation ERVIS and the importance of overcoming plastic pollution in the ocean in a responsible manner.
In 2016, his interest to clean up the world’s ocean was sparked by watching documentaries on the National Geographic Channel about the ocean waste problem and its dangers to marine life. He was also impressed by Boyan Slat’s TED Talk and also wanted to make a difference on the ocean waste problem.
Explaining the concept of ERVIS’s emergence, Haaziq said that once while washing his hands he watched the water flow into the sinkhole. He thought he can use the same principle of centripetal force to suck waste from the ocean’s surface. This created his first rough model of ERVIS which was his vision for changing the future.
However, the current prototype design of ERVIS emerged much later, in mid 2017, following extensive research and consultations with few scientists, designers, inventors and environmentalists; all of whom helped him to refine his vision of ERVIS and make it more practical in design.
ERVIS is an intelligent ship which has multiple saucers and chambers surrounding it. (Supplied)
The Intelligent Ship
Talking about the functions and features of ERVIS, Haaziq says, ERVIS is an intelligent ship which has multiple saucers and chambers surrounding it. The saucers suck in the ocean’s waste and through connected pipes send it across five different chambers; within which the entered waste is analysed, segregated and compacted and the filtered water is pumped back into the oceans.
The first chamber is for waste oil and the other four chambers are for large, medium, small and micro waste respectively. Haaziq clarifies that although he is currently working on the prototype of ERVIS, “It is still in the initial phases.
It will have to go through multiple stages and trials along with substantial funding before a fully operational ERVIS comes out in the oceans.Yet, Haaziq is optimistic that ERVIS will be a reality and in the future, multiple ERVISes will man the oceans; cleaning and scavenging the waste off it”.
Haaziq wants to use sustainable energy to power ERVIS like solar energy or Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) or Liquefied BioGas (LBG); being inspired by newer radical designed ships, which are utilising sustainable energy. He also hopes to make ERVIS fully autonomous like TESLA.
Haaziq is very passionate about creating public awareness of the dangers of ocean plastic pollution as he believes that this will solve a multitude of problems. He states that the global consumption of plastic in the last decade alone has surpassed that of the last century’s plastic consumption and that a major part of it was ending up in the oceans.
‘No Planet B’
Haaziq quotes Mahatma Gandhi and says, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” He further emphasises, “We all have in some manner contributed and created this ocean waste problem and if we don’t make smart choices or change the way we consume plastic in a more responsible manner, this problem will not only persist, but it will aggravate.”
He further asserts that he wants people to be conscious of their choices as there is only one earth which will be bequeathed to future generations and that our actions now will determine our legacy. He reminds us that “There is no Plan B, as there is no Planet B”.
When asked about his future plans and innovation, he muses that there is so much more to be done and adds that the ocean plastic problem itself poses the bigger problem of micro plastics which are more in quantity and a greater threat than plastics on the ocean surface. He mentions that wastes on beaches are a challenge.
He further adds that through ERVIS he wants to create a platform for like-minded people to connect and collaborate and help alleviate the problems facing the oceans and marine life.
Haaziq sees himself solving problems of the world innovatively and by sustainable means. One such problem that this child prodigy wishes to resolve relates to urban transportation.
Courtesy: english.alarabiya.net
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
