Project Background
Beyondly and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have formed a five-year partnership to help define the true impact of ocean plastics on our planet. This project empowers yacht owners to become citizen scientists by gathering water samples across the globe. These samples will then be analysed by NOC’s leading microplastics researchers, using them to grow their understanding of marine pollution, insights that traditional research alone would take decades to uncover.
Phase One of the Beyondly | NOC partnership launched in July 2025, with adventurer and environmentalist James Ketchell embarking on a pioneering solo sailing expedition around the world. His mission? To help build one of the most extensive microplastics datasets ever collected, by gathering vital water samples from some of the most remote and under-sampled parts of our oceans.
Over the course of this global voyage, James will use specialist equipment provided by the National Oceanography Centre to take consistent, high-quality water samples across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. These samples will be returned to the UK for analysis by NOC’s world-class marine scientists, helping to uncover where ocean microplastics are hiding and how they are moving through our seas.
But this isn’t just a scientific expedition, it’s also a journey of education and impact. Along the way, James will be visiting schools across multiple continents to share his story, raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.
Phase One marks the beginning of a bold five-year programme, using real-world exploration to advance marine science and amplify the urgency of protecting our ocean.
We wish James luck on his journey and look forward to sharing updates throughout his expedition.
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Phase 2 is now underway, with James Ketchell part way through his 9 month sailing expedition around the world. Despite battling challenging weather conditions and setbacks since his departure from Gosport in July 2025, James is making significant progress on his remarkable 30,000 nautical mile journey; taking him to Lanzarote, Cape Town, and Tasmania so far.
During his stop at Cape Town, James collected an Argo float, which he successfully deployed in the Indian Ocean on behalf of NOC. The Argo float is just one of a network of floats distributed around the world, and is designed to collect live ocean data on water temperature and salinity.
Following his departure from Tasmania in January, James set off on the longest leg of his journey, sailing 7,000 nautical miles across the South Pacific Ocean, to Punta Del Este in Uruguay. James will continue to collect valuable water samples on the last legs of his journey, helping to raise awareness and provide vital insight into the true impact microplastics have on our ocean.
With James due to return to the UK in summer 2026, we look forward to following his progress as he completes the last legs of his spectacular voyage and the impact his journey is having on ocean science and inspiring the next generation.
Chris Smith (MSc (Eng), CRWM) | Lead Consultant - Resource Efficiency & Circularity
Emily Baker | Commercial Marketing Manager
Mel Harper | Head of Brand, Marketing & Impact
Meet NOC
The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is the UK’s premier ocean science research organisation, known for cutting‑edge studies into marine environments and pollutants.
NOC, in partnership with Beyondly, has launched a five-year initiative harnessing citizen science, starting with James Ketchell’s iconic journey, to revolutionise how we understand and address microplastic pollution, and to inspire a global movement toward ocean stewardship.
Learn more about NOC