End-of-Life boats, reuse of GRP... latest news!

A few months ago we looked into several ways in which glassfibre (GRP) sections from dismantled recreational boats can recycled into new products.

One of these ways is being pioneered by Dr.lr. Albert Ten Busschen at the Polymer Engineering faculty of Windesheim Applied Sciences University in the Netherlands. Since the publishing of the previous article, Albert has provided us with a detailed article, which explains the process of ‘remanufacturing’ GRP material into reconstituted durable thermoset composite panels. If the trial version can be replicated in volume, and in an economically viable way, these panels could be used as retaining walls that can be placed alongside thousands of miles of canals in the Netherlands.

The article, which suggests that the up-cycled panels could be used for other industrial applications, appeared in the latest issue of the ‘Report Magazine’, published by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS). 

Learn more about End-of-Life Boats, at METSTRADE 2017

We are excited to announce that Albert ten Busschen is joining our panel of experts at the Innovation Stage area of the METSTRADE show on November 14th at 13.00 hrs. This panel will discuss several the challenges presented by ELB’s, and the most recent developments in sustainability within the marine industry. The issue affects millions of boats that are reaching end-of-life, or end-of-use in the coming decades.

The session aims to broadcast the subject to a wider audience, and to encourage a more entrepreneurial mindset in addressing the challenges. The focus will lie on environmental awareness and financial health.

The panel line up will be as follows:

• Albert Willemsen - Environmental Consultant, ICOMIA. (Moderator)
• Neil Chapman – CEO, Boatshed.com.
• Willem Dekker – President, European Boating Association.
• Jeroen van den Heuvel - Membership Manager, HISWA.
• Pierre Barbleu - President, APER boat dismantling network, France.
• Dr. Albert ten Busschen - Professor of plastics technology, Windesheim University.

The earlier METSTRADE.com articles on this subject can be viewed here:

• Can plastic boats be recylced?
• Sustainability in the Leisure Marine Industry… Ringing the changes, and learning from the past

We look forward to meeting you at the ELB panel discussion at the METSTRADE Innovation Stage on Tuesday November 14th at 13.00, which has allocated time for questions and input from the audience.

Questions and comments for the ELB panel pcan be posted in the comment box below.