Written by Kris Land
The formation of a "garbage patch" was first mentioned in a paper released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1988. At the time, a prediction was made that the oceans were beginning to accumulate plastic waste, specifically in the North Pacific. The NOAA warned that this could begin happening in open seas where prevailing currents maintained calm waters.
Unfortunately, little effort was diverted to the prevention of 
garbage patch formation. In the decades that followed, manmade waste has gathered in the North Pacific Gyre and other portions of the Pacific. Although it cannot be viewed from space, the garbage patch has been verified as real. Its size is still unknown because no means of measurement exists to determine which polluted waters are simply random debris and which are actually a part of the dense garbage patch. Estimates range from areas the size of Texas to an expanse bigger than the entire United States.
What's a patch of garbage in the enormous ocean? Well that depends on who you ask. If the marine animals
could speak, they would tell you it is certainly a big deal. Discarded plastic, chemical sludge and other debris contaminate the waters that sea creatures live in. Young sea turtles, birds and other animals wind up swallowing plastic pieces, which can become lodged in their stomachs. Other problems can occur to sea creature populations when organic pollution is devoured and begins to impact the animals hormonal balance.
And to think that we as human beings are immune is a grave mistake. Many communities depend on the bounty of the seas for sustenance. Even beyond those fishing communities, most places in the world have access to seafood. When the fish, shrimp, and other delicacies of the sea are contaminated, that means one of mankinds most important food sources is also contaminated.
This is a serious problem, and the first one to be tackled by the refitted USNS New Bedford IX-308 (also known as the USNS New Bedford T-AKL-17), which is now the Sea Bird. Once enough funding is secured to complete the transformation of this (former movie star) turned earth-crusading Sea Bird, the ship will begin removing debris from the infamous garbage patch. This sounds like a big job for a single boat, but it is vital that we get things started. The garbage patch is not getting any smaller on its own, in fact in many cases the debris and pollution content is increasing. It is estimated that over 250 species of mammal, sea creature, and bird are impacted by the presence of plastic marine debris.
The Sea Bird will begin to reverse the negative effects of decades of irresponsible waste disposal into the worlds oceans. This will not only be an important step in the history of the USNS New Bedford, but also an important change in attitude and direction for human beings as a whole. You can help support the Sea Birds efforts by donating, (inquiring about sponsorship), and getting involved with our (blog) and (forum). Were in the process of building a completely new waste-oil powered engine that will hopefully enable us to do this! Both sponsorship and spreading the word about getting this former fishing vessel ready to collect debris and pollution from the oceans garbage patches will make a world of a difference in helping sea life thrive under optimal living conditions.
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1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
