Thomsea

Thomsea is a French company founded in 2000 which collects floating waste from the oceans such as algae, petroleum and solid waste such as plastics and plants.

The firm was founded by local fishermen based on their experience in oil spills from tankers MV Erika in 1999 and MV Prestige in 2003. The company was able to demonstrate the use of its trawl to make cleanings.

Trawls are U-shaped floating devices that catch waste. They can be positioned on the coast or transported to the sea by boats. Trawls are available sizes of 2 and 8 tonnes. The nets can be used by fishing vessels, amphibious oyster barges and conventional maritime vessels.

Since 2010, the company has been cleaning solid waste. As part of a partnership with Waste Free Oceans, the company is equipping European countries to use solid waste cleaning technology and is training local seafarers. 

Since 2013, the company has developed a new technology to collect and pump green, red and brown algae, and has a partnership with Olmix Group, which manufactures products based on algae.

Trawls are validated by the French Navy and Centre for Documentary Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE).

The company has signed a contract to supply cleaning equipment to the Center of Expertise in pollution Control (CEPPOL), an expert body in the French Navy. Thomsea recently developed a project in collaboration with IADYS, combining both technologies to provide Ports and Harbors cleanups. 

Its other clients include government agencies such as National Ports Agency (ANP) of Morocco and companies such as Total Group and Bourbon Offshore.