After spending over two decades riding the swells of the world’s oceans, most would expect a Merchant Navy captain to settle into a quiet retirement, perhaps by a beach, sipping something tropical. But Captain DC Sekhar had other plans — ones that involved less relaxation and a lot more river sludge.
In 2016, Sekhar came home after 26 years of navigating global waters. What greeted him wasn’t the comfort of land, but a troubling sight that stirred a storm within him. India’s rivers — once lifelines of culture and commerce — were now choked with plastic, garbage, and neglect. The seas he once sailed into were now being polluted by the rivers he had returned to.
For many, it would’ve been an uncomfortable observation, a fleeting pang of guilt. But for Sekhar, it became a mission.
From Ocean Charts to River Maps
Drawing from his extensive maritime experience and a sharp eye for engineering, Sekhar began conceptualizing a solution that was as elegant as it was effective. The problem? Rivers carrying tonnes of waste into the seas every single day. The goal? Intercept that waste before it reached the ocean.
His brainchild was a floating barrier system that looked deceptively simple. Rather than fighting the river, Sekhar’s design worked with it. Installed diagonally across the current, these barriers guided floating waste — plastic, logs, debris — toward a collection system stationed conveniently at the bank. The water flowed freely; the trash didn’t.
No engines. No fuel. No noisy machinery. Just smart design powered by gravity and the natural force of flowing water.
A Disruptive Solution with a Gentle Footprint
In an era dominated by expensive, high-maintenance environmental tech, Sekhar’s system stood out for its minimalism and sustainability. It didn’t just work — it outperformed international models, at a fraction of the cost. In fact, it’s nearly 30 times cheaper than foreign alternatives, making it one of the most scalable cleanup tools for countries with limited resources and massive pollution challenges.
Municipal bodies were quick to notice. His floating barriers now operate in the Cooum and Adyar rivers in Chennai — two water bodies long dismissed as unsalvageable. Yet, thanks to the system, over 20,000 tonnes of waste have already been intercepted.
And this is just the beginning.
Goa’s Grand Cleanup & Ocean Dreams
Sekhar’s most ambitious project is now unfolding in Goa, where barriers are being deployed across all rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea. The vision? Stop the plastic parade before it hits open waters. It’s an audacious plan, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s the man who’s made a career out of reading currents and outthinking the chaos of the sea.
But he isn’t stopping at rivers.
Captain Sekhar is now turning his attention to marine pollution directly at sea, working on designs that could one day float across the ocean, capturing waste before it settles into the planet’s blue heart.
A Captain’s Legacy Beyond the Helm
In a world often overwhelmed by problems that feel too big to fix, Sekhar’s story is a refreshing reminder: sometimes the best solutions are simple, local, and born out of lived experience. He didn’t arrive with a billion-dollar startup or a global nonprofit. Just a background in seafaring, an inventive mind, and a relentless belief that change is possible — if we’re willing to work for it.
As rivers once worshipped now gasp under the weight of pollution, Captain Sekhar offers more than a cleanup system. He offers hope — that innovation doesn’t always need to come from Silicon Valley or Switzerland. Sometimes, it sails back home, drops anchor, and quietly begins to clean.