February 23, 2024

Voice of the Ocean’s Eco-Friendly Sailing Catamaran Docks at Port Nikau

Following a three-year expedition sailing around the world raising awareness about plastic pollution, the Voice of the Oceans crew has made Port Nikau their temporary home. After arriving in December, their crew are taking a well-earned break until April while essential maintenance is undertaken on their sailing catamaran, Kat.

We had the privilege of sitting down with the founder of Voice of the Oceans, Wilhelm Schurmann, and one of the key crew members, Erika, to chat about their recent expedition, their stay in Whangārei, and what’s next on their agenda for 2024.

Wilhelm’s journey with ocean exploration dates back to the late 1990s when his parents embarked on a worldwide sailing adventure, capturing the events in a documentary. The family’s commitment to ocean conservation led to the launch of the Voice of the Oceans initiative in 2019, to combat plastic pollution in our oceans.

Kat is the flagship vessel of Voice of the Oceans, a catamaran designed for extended sea voyages. She can house a crew of up to 13 scientists and researchers and is powered by wind, hydro, and solar energy. She is equipped with a wastewater treatment system, wind generators, and an ultraviolet wastewater treatment system, and represents the possibilities in sustainable ocean exploration.

The Voice of the Oceans efforts are geared towards bringing about tangible change to prevent plastic pollution. During their global expedition, they have visited over 100 ports where their crew have been involved in beach cleanups, scientific research, and educational outreach programs. At every port, they welcome the public and school groups to step aboard and explore the vessel.

During their stay at Port Nikau, Wilhelm plans to conduct maintenance including the installation of fold-out solar panels along Kat’s hull by local contractors to enhance her environmentally friendly features. They will also prepare for their next expedition, which will focus not only on plastic pollution but also on the urgent issue of global warming and sea level rise. First stop: Tuvalu, a South Pacific island nation that is in danger of sea level rise.

Wilhelm and Erika said they were “blown away” by the lack of rubbish in Whangārei. “We went for a bike ride along the mangroves and even at low tide, we didn’t see any trash. Wilhelm rowed a kayak from Port Nikau to Marsden Cove and back and didn’t see one piece of plastic.”
Wilhelm tells us that since starting their expedition in 2021, out of every beach they’ve walked in the past three years (there have been over 100), Ocean Beach in Whangārei had the least plastic. “I found two very tiny pieces of plastic, that was all,” says Erika. “It’s very cool.”

We are proud to be able to host Kat and the Voice of the Oceans at Port Nikau and look forward to following their adventures later this year.

If you’d like to keep up to date with their travels, you can follow their YouTube or Instagram.