David Flagler and the Clean Marine Solutions team are at the forefront of the green business revolution. With local, state and national governments taking an increased interest in becoming environmentally friendly, it’s no surprise that Clean Marine has received funding to enhance a machine that could have a dramatic impact on the ports and marinas in North Carolina and the rest of the world.
Flagler’s education and work backgrounds in chemistry and watercraft training enabled him to develop a product now known as the Vanish 300 (pictured in photo). He began experimenting with water treatment and cleaning processes nearly 20 years ago so when the N.C. Division of Water Quality instated new and stricter marina regulations, he was eager to help the owners meet the high standards. “I have always loved the people and atmosphere you find in boatyards, so when I found a way to make their jobs easier and help the environment I couldn’t wait to get to work,” said Flagler of his Wilmington, N.C., business. The purpose of the Vanish 300 system is to clean and treat the water used to pressure wash boats and recycle it for future use. This process has the potential to save marinas time and thousands of dollars in maintenance and permitting costs.
Flagler applied for a grant from the North Carolina Green Business Fund in 2008 in hopes of refining the machine he had already developed. The Green Business Fund was established to help promote and support the growth of small businesses with the shared goal of building a greener economy in North Carolina. The highly competitive grant program is administered by the N.C. Board of Science and Technology (a branch of the state’s Department of Commerce).
“When I found out about the grant opportunity I had already developed the prototype of the Vanish 300, but I wanted to get the machine to a point where it would be easy for anyone to use,” said Flagler. With the money Clean Marine Solutions received, Flagler has been able to achieve his goals of simplifying the machine by installing a built-in control system. He was also able to build two additional machines and place them in local marinas to get feedback.
With everything in place for Clean Marine to be a highly successful and effective business, Flagler is waiting for local sales of the Vanish 300 to reach its full potential as the marinas change or update their current systems. With this in mind, Flagler’s advice to other green businesses is to make sure their product is not ahead of the times. “Because a lot of the technology used by these green companies is so advanced, it is important that a product’s need be established before production begins.”
Although local sales of the Vanish 300 system have yet to meet Flagler’s expectations, Clean Marine has received international recognition and business. An Australian marina recently wrote a letter in support of the Clean Marine system in hopes of getting other marinas to install the Vanish 300 to comply with that country’s strict environmental policies. The company has also been contacted by an Italian organization that hopes to become the sole dealer of the system in Italy. In addition to these exciting achievements, Clean Marine has been featured in several international magazines including the UK’s Marina World and another publication that is distributed in 27 countries around the world.
As the demand for green industry and products continues to increase, Clean Marine Solutions hopes to expand its water treatment technology to be used in car washes and other facilities that clean heavy duty construction equipment and trucks. In the near future, Flagler would like to employ a team that specializes in installing the Vanish 300 and instructing marina owners and workers on how it works. “With the help and support of the government this system has the potential to have a huge impact on the future of our waterways and environment,” Flagler said of the Clean Marine Solutions’ Vanish 300 system.
- Story and Photo by Elizabeth Johnson, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism student.