Lost in the ocean 1, 2025

Ivona Ivanova  

Getting lost in the ocean happened in January (1992) when a cargo ship traveling from Hong Kong (China) to Washington (USA) hit rough waters in the North Pacific. Several containers fall overboard, including one containing 29,000 plastic bath toys - ducks, frogs, turtles and beavers - manufactured by The First Years Inc. Through their plastic wrapping, the toys manage to stay afloat and from then on begin floating freely in the ocean. This event, later called the "Friendly floatees spill" inadvertently contributed to the study of ocean currents. The extreme persistence of these objects contributes to the study of ocean currents. The objects can be worn for decades and remain intact.

Oceanographer Curt Ebbesmeyer and his team track the movement of these floating objects, providing information about the great ocean conveyor belt, a system of interconnected ocean currents that regulate global climate. The incident in question also highlights the long-term presence of plastic objects in the aquatic environment.

In addition, some of the ducklings washed ashore become valuable collectors' items, underscoring the mainstream nature of public perception. The rubber duck began to be seen as a symbol.  It evokes common emotions - regardless of cultural or social affiliation. In modern society, objects are no longer merely functional; they carry social, cultural and emotional meaning that shapes our perception of them.