A trio of Somersfield students are using a school project to help alleviate the problem of ocean plastic in Bermuda.

Thibaut Stefani, Liam Greenlaw and Kieran Kimberley are working to raise funds to buy a Seabin.

Seabins are floating devices that take in ocean water and filter it through a bag, collecting plastics and other types of debris in the process.

The units have a base price of about $4,000.

Two Seabins are currently in use in Bermuda — one at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, and the other at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club.

Thibaut said the group had already raised $3,000.

He explained: “We did a movie night for younger children in our school.”

Thibaut said money has also been raised through a crowdfunding page on Indiegogo.

The 13-year-old Pembroke resident said the idea for the project came from two experiences last year — a beach cleanup as part of the America’s Cup Endeavour Programme, and a visit to the Race For Water vessel, which was berthed in Bermuda as part of an around-the-world trip to raise awareness about plastic in the oceans.

He said the group planned to put their Seabin to use at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

The trio have also made a three-minute movie about the problems posed by plastic in the oceans. It was submitted as part of Young Reporters for the Environment, an international competition run locally by Greenrock.

Thibaut said the movie was created with photographs shot by the boys of the Seabin during a visit to the dinghy club.

The group is trying to inform the public about the wide-reaching impacts of the problem.

Thibaut added: “It’s not only marine life that is affected. It also affects tourism and the aesthetics of the beach.”

He described the school project as “life-changing work”.

Thibaut explained: “It teaches so many things.”

He said that the project had helped the pupils work on their time-management, communication and collaboration skills.

Thibaut said the skills would come in use in two years’ time when the group members will have to prepare larger solo projects as part of their M5 coursework.

He added: “It’s more challenging.”

To donate to the project visit indiegogo.com/projects/clean-oceans-with-a-third-seabin-in-bermuda#/