Inside SeaClear2.0: How Six Autonomous Robots Hunt Ocean Plastic

SeaClear2.0: A robotic answer to a growing ocean crisis

Millions of tonnes of plastic litter the seafloor and shorelines worldwide, and more waste enters the oceans every year. The scale, constant replenishment, and inaccessibility of many polluted sites make conventional clean-up methods struggle to keep pace. SeaClear2.0 offers a coordinated, technology-driven approach: an international project deploying a fleet of autonomous and remotely operated robots to locate, recover and transport marine debris.

Project overview

SeaClear2.0 began in January 2023 and runs through December 2026, building on the original SeaClear initiative (Jan 2020–Dec 2023). The programme brings together partners from business, academia, technology and non-profit organisations across Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Israel. The project remains in active testing and refinement as teams iterate hardware, autonomy and operational procedures.

The robotic fleet

The system comprises six specialised platforms that work together to find and remove litter:

• SeaHawk (drone) — Aerial surveys to detect litter hotspots and guide surface and submersible assets.
• SeaCAT (USV) — The central communication and coordination hub. It can operate autonomously or under remote control and delegates tasks to the other robots.
• SeaDragon (USV) — A smaller, lighter surface vessel that docks with SeaCAT to take on collected debris and then sails independently to prearranged coastal drop-off points.
• SeaBee (USV) — Comprised of two mini-robots that tow a net between them to capture floating rubbish in surface waters.
• Smart Grapple (autonomous submersible) — Linked to SeaCAT and able to manoeuvre underwater using thrusters to grasp litter and return items to SeaCAT.
• Mini TORTUGA ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) — Maps the seabed and transmits location data so teams can target buried or settled plastic for retrieval.

Targeted, mission-driven campaigns

SeaClear2.0 pairs robotic retrieval with local analysis and policy engagement rather than simply deploying machines at random. Teams run stakeholder workshops, field trials and studies to prioritise high-impact areas, identify debris pathways and adapt tactics to local conditions.

For example, a stakeholder workshop in Marseille in September 2025 focused on how waste from the Rhône reaches nearby coasts and beaches. Participants highlighted local drivers such as dense urban populations, heavy tourism and gaps in municipal waste management. The project translated those findings into operational actions — mapping debris hotspots, assigning robots to priority zones and removing specific large items (such as vandalised e-scooters and rental bikes) that enter waterways — while also advocating for policy and operational changes to reduce upstream waste.

Beyond collection: addressing sources

SeaClear2.0 positions itself as more than a technological toolkit. By combining technical trials, community engagement, policy outreach and publications, the project aims to attack the root causes of plastic pollution as well as its visible effects. This dual approach increases the likelihood of long-term impact beyond immediate clean-up.

Looking ahead

The project concludes at the end of 2026, at which point partners will evaluate operational lessons, environmental outcomes and policy impacts. The SeaClear2.0 effort also complements other innovations — from waste-to-fuel technologies to improved urban waste systems — that together can reduce the flow of plastic into the oceans.

Note: SeaClear2.0 remains a testing and development programme. Results and best practices emerging from the project will inform future large-scale deployments and policy decisions.