BACKGROUND

Cargo hold cleaning is a crucial operational step in bulk carrier voyages, performed after cargo discharge and before new cargo loading. This task is often carried out at sea or during limited port stays, and involves intensive manual labour, frequently at heights exceeding 15 meters, using ladders, high-pressure water jets, chemicals, and scrubbing tools. Despite its essential role in maintaining cargo quality, avoiding contamination, and complying with cleanliness standards, the process remains largely manual and inherently hazardous.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEM

Bulk carrier cargo hold cleaning is not only physically demanding and time-consuming but also presents significant safety risks—particularly falls from height, exposure to hazardous chemicals, and fatigue-related injuries. The maritime industry continues to report injuries and fatalities linked to cleaning and inspection tasks. These risks are exacerbated by:

• Vessel motion at sea
• Inconsistent cleaning standards across cargo types (e.g. normal clean, grain clean, hospital clean)
• Limited access to mechanized equipment like cherry pickers, which are impractical or unusable during voyage

In addition to safety, delays in cleaning can disrupt cargo operations, leading to scheduling inefficiencies, port delays, financial penalties, and contractual disputes. Improving cleaning processes directly supports faster turnaround times, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability.

POTENTIAL MARKET SIZE

• Global bulk carrier fleet: Over 12,000 bulk carriers in operation worldwide
• Cleaning frequency: Hold cleaning is required between every cargo change—potentially hundreds of thousands of cleaning operations annually
• Target users: Shipowners, technical managers, crewing companies, operators, charterers
• Regions of opportunity: High-bunkering and transshipment hubs (e.g. Singapore, Rotterdam), but applicable globally
• Estimated market size: Solutions could tap into a multi-billion-dollar segment of ship operations, OPEX reduction, and maritime safety services

EXISTING EFFORTS

• Cherry pickers & shore-side support: Only viable in port and are expensive
• Manual crew-based cleaning: The industry norm due to low labor costs, but high risk
• Preliminary automation tools: Some robotic tank cleaners and foam sprayers exist, mainly in tankers, but bulk carrier-specific, height-capable, ship-motion resistant solutions are rare
• AI/CCTV for inspection: Used in tank inspections, not widely applied to bulk cargo holds

Gaps:

• Lack of scalable, voyage-capable automation
• Few AI-enhanced tools for real-time cleaning feedback or cleanliness verification
• Insufficient cross-purpose solutions for other onboard spaces (e.g., ballast tanks)