The Cataglop is the world's first vessel that can simultaneously clean up liquid and solid waste.

As reported by Fairfax last October, West Sunshine-based firm Opeam (Oil Pollution Equipment Asset Management) imported the marine pollution vessel with the intention of on-selling or leasing it.

Opeam managing director Colin Moore said the 9.9-metre boat could manoeuvre around Port Phillip Bay or the Maribyrnong River, sucking up 2500 litres of oil and 1.2 tonnes of solid pollution at a time.

It can collect a variety of waste including seaweed, wood, plastic, oil and dirty water.

Transportable by road and launched by crane, it can also be used for fighting fires.

Mr Moore has urged councils to pool funds to hire the vessel when needed - using a similar method to car-pooling. "There's been some fairly keen interest from various organisations," he said.

"It is certainly the first one in Australia and one of only 30 in the world."

Mr Moore said the Cataglop could also be the answer to Hobsons Bay's mounting seaweed problem, particularly at Altona Beach.

"If we can collect the seaweed before it comes ashore then hopefully all that contamination can be eliminated."