Ghent (The brussels Morning Newspaper): VZW Straal in Ghent fixes old boats for a boat-sharing service. They help clean waterways, offer affordable fun and create job opportunities for locals.
There’s a new company in Ghent called vzw Straal that’s doing something with boats. They’re fixing up old and abandoned boats found along local and European waterways. After making sure the boats are safe they put them on a digital platform for people to book and share like how you can share cars.Environmentalists said that this boat-sharing idea by vzw Straal is great for the environment because they’re fixing up old boats which helps clean up the waterways. It also gives people a cheaper way to go boating for fun. They even hold workshops and create job chances for locals.
What is vzw Straal doing to reduce waste from polyester boats?
VZW Straal is concentrating on fixing up polyester pleasure boats for their boat-sharing idea. Polyester boats create a lot of waste and clutter when left abandoned in the water. By working on these boats vzw Straal is trying to tackle this problem head on. They collect these forgotten boats make them safe for the water and then let people use them through their sharing platform. vzw Straal gets help from volunteers and people who need work experience to fix up the polyester boats. This way they not only help the environment but also give these individuals a chance to learn new skills.It has been said that by working on these boats vzw Straal is cutting down on the waste from polyester and turning old boats into something fun and useful for everyone in the community.
Laura from Straal said they don’t just find boats by the water, some boat owners donate their boats. They fix them up in a shed to sail with electricity or hydrogen. Tthey have 7 boats that they share with people who love sailing or can’t afford their own. The boats are parked at Gasmeterlaan in Ghent. Members learn sailing basics before heading out and can sail anywhere once they know about locks and times. Straal takes care of paperwork, maintenance, and a mooring spot for the boats.
