(MAR) OCEAN PLASTIC SAILING SHIP DESIGN GETS AIP

The Manta will turn ocean plastic pollution into energy. [Credit: Synthes3D forThe Seacleaners]

Classification society Bureau Veritas has awarded its Approval in Principle (AiP) to an innovative sailing vessel designed to not only collect floating ocean plastic pollution waste but to process it.

Called the Manta, the 56 meter long, 26 meter wide and 62 meter high sailing ship, will be equipped with an on-board factory including a waste-to-energy conversion unit.

Due to set sail at the end of 2025, the design was developed by Manta Innovation, the engineering design office of the SeaCleaners NGO, with the support of naval architects at France’s Ship-ST and Sembcorp Marine’s Bergen, Norway, based subsidiary, LMG Marin AS

The Manta will be powered by a combination of renewable energy technologies to minimize its carbon footprint and achieve 50 to 75% energy autonomy. It will also serve as a scientific laboratory for the observation, analysis and understanding of ocean plastic pollution and as an educational platform open to the public.

Bureau Veritas reviewed the overall structure, stability and security plans of the Manta, based on risk mitigation in relation to new technologies and requirements.

The SeaCleaners was founded by its president, Yvan Bourgnon, a veteran yacht skipper who is the holder of several world sailing records.

“Marine plastic pollution is a global ecological disaster which requires urgent action now both on land and at sea,” he says. “We are grateful that the Manta was awarded the AiP from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. This represents a major milestone for us and shows the solidity of our approach to tackle plastic pollution as we are about to enter a new development phase of the Manta with the upcoming launch of the call for tenders to shipyards. 

More than 45,000 hours of study & development, involving 60+ engineers, technicians and researchers have led to this endorsement. It gives ourselves and our current and future partners confidence to look at the next steps.” MarineLog - link - Nick Blenkey - link - more like this (shipping) - link - more like this (marine plastic) - link - more like this (France) - link

(AEV) THE MANTA ANN

Helicopters carry most of the burden when it comes to medical air transportation, but things are starting to change. 

Small drones are already being used for delivering urgent medical supplies over short distances, but eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing) capable of interregional flights have the potential to revolutionize medical transportation.

Manta Aircraft might not be as famous as other eVTOL developers, but its versatile Ann platform has shown enough potential to be selected by a private air transport company to provide medical transportation services. Avionord has agreed to purchase 15 units of Manta’s hybrid-electric model while also becoming an investor for the Italian company.

The main feature that drew Avionord’s attention was Ann’s extensive range. Equipped with a turbo generator and batteries, this aircraft is able to conduct flights of up to 1,000 km (620 miles) without requiring ant ground-based recharging infrastructure because it’s able to recharge its batteries en-route. This means that it could fly between cities in order to deliver organs for transplants or equipment for the re-perfusion of organs. And it would do so fast, thanks to a speed of up to 300 kph (186 mph).

Another major benefit is that it combines eVTOL and STOL (short take-off and landing) capabilities. This means that its infrastructure requirements are minimal. It can take off and land vertically using existing helipads, but it can also do that from very short runways, which would enable it to carry a higher payload. Additionally, it's much less noisy than a helicopter, with lower operating costs.

The future ANN hybrid VTOLs that will be operated by Avionord will therefore be capable of providing essential medical transportation services within an entire region, landing from one hospital helipad to another, faster and quieter than helicopters.

Manta Aircraft is gearing up for the certification of its first model, the two-seater Ann2, next year, while the hybrid-electric VTOLs with a medical configuration are set to be delivered by 2026. Autoevolution - link - Otilia Dragan - link - more like this (eVTOL) - link - more like this (Italy) - link