{"id":263806,"date":"2017-08-03T08:29:47","date_gmt":"2017-08-03T12:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rael.org\/?p=263806"},"modified":"2020-11-22T10:14:56","modified_gmt":"2020-11-22T15:14:56","slug":"norwegian-billionaire-funds-worlds-largest-yatch-to-scoop-up-plastic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noproxy.rael.org\/pl\/norwegian-billionaire-funds-worlds-largest-yatch-to-scoop-up-plastic\/","title":{"rendered":"Norwegian billionaire funds world\u2019s largest yatch to scoop up plastic"},"content":{"rendered":"
RAEL\u2019S COMMENT:<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
Not all billionaires are selfish!<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

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The vessel will be able to scoop up around five tons of plastic every day, and then melt it down \u2013 all in yet another private effort to help clean up the ocean.<\/p>\n

Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge R\u00f8kke has profited from\u00a0offshore drilling. But now the businessman, who started as a fisherman, wants to give back with a colossal\u00a0yacht\u00a0for\u00a0marine research. The vessel will be able to scoop up around five tons of\u00a0plastic\u00a0every day, and then melt it down \u2013 all in yet another private effort to help clean up the\u00a0ocean.<\/p>\n

R\u00f8kke, who\u2019s worth around\u00a0$2.6 billion, owns almost 67 percent of shipping and offshore drilling conglomerate\u00a0Aker ASA. But now he\u2019s contracted a 595-foot Research Expedition Vessel (REV) to be built by\u00a0VARD\u00a0and designed by\u00a0superyacht\u00a0designer\u00a0Espen Oeino. Scientists and marine researchers will be invited aboard to study and innovate around issues like\u00a0climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution, and extraction, according to owner\u00a0Rosellinis Four-10, a subsidiary of the R\u00f8kke family company TRG.<\/p>\n

Rosellinis Four-10 will collaborate with none other than\u00a0World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Norway, who will manage the ship. Aboard, scientists will have access to laboratory space, sea and air drones, an auditorium, two helipads, and an autonomous underwater vehicle. 60 scientists and 40 crew could travel aboard the immense ship. According to Yacht Harbour, the REV will be largest yacht in the world \u2013 it will narrowly beat out the\u00a0592-foot Azzam yacht\u00a0rumored to be owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.<\/p>\n

You may be wondering about the\u00a0carbon footprint\u00a0of such a massive ship.\u00a0According to VARD, environmental performance was important in the vessel\u2019s design. The REV will be equipped with an \u201cenergy recovery rudder system, medium speed engines, a direct drive diesel-electric propulsion system with battery package, and an exhaust cleaning system.\u201d An energy management system will also help the crew lessen the REV\u2019s carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

R\u00f8kke told Oslo\u2019s\u00a0Aftenposen\u00a0publication, \u201cI want to give back to society the bulk of what I\u2019ve earned. This ship is a part of it\u2026sea covers 70 percent of Earth\u2019s surface and much is not researched.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s given WWF Norway total independence over the REV\u2019s mission. WWF Norway Secretary General Nina Jensen told Aftenposten they may disagree over oil, and the organization is willing to challenge R\u00f8kke when they disagree, \u201cbut in this project we will meet to collectively make a big difference in the environmental struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The REV should be ready to go around 2020.<\/p>\n

Norwegian billionaire funds world\u2019s largest yacht to scoop up plastic<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n