Whether you’re setting sail on a month’s long trip or just heading out for the day, it’s vital that you always keep sustainability in the forefront of your planning. Here at Offshore Supply, we want to ensure that you have a safe trip for both everyone on board, and the environment. This is why we do our best to provide you with the best marine supplies on the market so you can have fun and be safe at the same time.
In this blog, we’re taking a look at what it means to have a sustainable boating trip and what you can do to ensure that your next sail is eco-friendly. We’ll be running through our expert advice on how to protect wildlife and habitats and reducing your carbon footprint amongst other important topics. As always, we’re here to help with any further questions or for more details about the fantastic products we supply so don’t hesitate to contact us.
How to Prevent Pollution
There are different types of pollution that you must consider when boating such as oil spills, plastic pollution and noise pollution. It’s vital to remember to keep on top of all boat maintenance in order to avoid polluting – here are our quick tips to keep in mind.
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Dispose of rubbish properly.
You should never, under any circumstances, tip rubbish into the ocean. It destroys habitats and kills sea creatures as well as creating pollution and acting as an eyesore. Please ensure that all rubbish on board is stored in the correct bins and then recycled at the marina.
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Remember noise pollution.
Pollution isn’t just about physical spills and mess, it also covers sound. Why not try out an electrically powered boat? They are silent compared to traditional motors which means a more relaxing and peaceful journey is guaranteed. Additionally, keeping as quiet as possible means you’re not disturbing wildlife and other boaters.
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Dispose of greywater and blackwater correctly.
Greywater comes from sinks, showers, washing machines, dishwater and other cleaning water onboard. Because it is used for cleaning, it’s full of harmful chemicals that if it’s thrown into the ocean, it will cause pollution and kill creatures that ingest it. Remember to always use sustainable products onboard and try and do as much cleaning at the marinas. Blackwater is sewage and is illegal to dispose of in certain areas of the sea. Make sure to always follow authority’s guidelines to avoid ruining a habitat or gaining a hefty fine!
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Keep up with engine maintenance.
Taking time to properly check over your boat’s engine before departing is vital. You need to make sure that there are no leaks, as oil spills can be very dangerous to not only sea life but the bird population as well.
Sustainable Products
You must be using environmentally friendly products wherever possible to ensure you’re actively avoiding pollution. We have a fantastic range of marine cleaning supplies for you to stock up on before your next adventure – let’s take a look at a couple of the products we offer.
Unitor Marine Chemicals
Our range of Unitor Marine Chemicals such as the Multi Clean pictured is one of our top choices for eco-friendly cleaning products. This is because its mixture of water, natural citrus solvent and synthetic surfactants is fully biodegradable and contains no damaging chemicals – meaning its safe for you and everyone onboard as well as sea life. It is perfect for cleaning most areas of the boat including decks, floor plates and engine rooms. As an added bonus it also has a fresh citrus fragrance.
Unitor Seaclean Plus
Much like the previous product, this tank cleaner and degreaser comes from Unitor. Their products do not contain any harsh chemicals so they’re completely safe to use – just make sure to check out the product descriptions and additional information over on our website to ensure you’re happy using the ingredients they contain. The Seaclean Plus is a fantastic, low-toxic, biodegradable, solvent-based cleaner and can be used on most surface types including metal and painted surfaces as well as tank coatings.
Wildlife and Habitat Protection
Although all these tips are important to remember, this one could be argued as the most vital, as the above advice impacts wildlife and habitats as well in varying ways. However, there are specific things you can to do to make you and everyone on board more aware of protecting wildlife and marine habitats.
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Visit Blue Flag sites.
These sites are globally recognised for their strict environmental standards, including keeping marinas and beaches free from litter and educating people about the wildlife nearby through appropriate signage and information boards. There are currently Blue Flag sites in 49 countries worldwide, so you can’t miss them!
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Never get too close to wildlife.
As tempting as it may be, you must remember to keep a respectful distance between yourself and sea creatures. You are visitors in their home and you may cause stress by being too close without realising. Additionally, do your research and make yourself aware of breeding areas in order to avoid them as best as possible.
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Fish sustainably.
If you’re out fishing, you must take extra measures to ensure that you’re doing it responsibly. This means choosing to catch and release as well as steering clear of overexploited species.
You should now be well-equipped with useful knowledge to take with you on your next boating adventure. Remember to stock up on all your marine supplies from us at Offshore Supply such as the Unitor marine chemicals as previously mentioned. If you have any further questions, please contact us – we’re always happy to help.