AI Joins the Cleanup Crew: The Ocean Cleanup and AWS Tackle Ocean Plastic

The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit known for its efforts to remove plastic from oceans and rivers, has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in a tech-forward push to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Their ambitious goal? To remove 90 percent of floating ocean plastic by 2040—using AI.

The new initiative will tap into AWS’s cloud computing and machine learning tools to help The Ocean Cleanup detect, predict, and efficiently remove plastic pollution while minimizing risk to marine life. The plan includes developing a “plastic navigation” system—an AI-powered model that integrates data from drones, satellites, and floating trackers to pinpoint debris hotspots in real time. That information can then be used to steer cleanup vessels where they’re most needed.

The collaboration also includes efforts to automate marine life detection. Today, onboard observers are required to ensure protected species aren’t harmed during operations. AI-powered monitoring could eventually reduce this workload and allow more resources to go directly toward removing plastic.

So far, The Ocean Cleanup has removed nearly 64 million pounds of debris globally. With AWS’s tech in the mix, the group hopes to dramatically scale that number.

For cruisers, the takeaway is clear: plastic pollution isn’t just a distant problem—it affects weather, wildlife, and navigation. This partnership is a reminder of how innovation on a global scale can help keep our oceans healthier for everyone afloat.

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