BACKGROUND

Biofouling on ship hulls increases drag, leading to higher fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Current hull cleaning methods often face challenges related to environmental constraints, space limitations, niche area cleaning, potential for hull damage, waste disposal, and high costs. Developing efficient and eco-friendly solutions is crucial for improving vessel performance, reducing the environmental impact of shipping, and optimising port operations.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEM

Biofouling impacts fuel efficiency and contributes to the spread of invasive aquatic species. Current hull cleaning methods often face challenges related to environmental constraints, space limitations, niche area cleaning, potential for hull damage, waste disposal, and high costs.

POTENTIAL MARKET SIZE

The global hull cleaning robot market was valued at approximately US$300 million in 2022. Market reports estimate that the market can grow to about US$400m in the 2030s, as demand for solutions to meet sustainability targets increase.

EXISTING EFFORTS

Current hull cleaning methods include in-water cleaning with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and diver-based cleaning. However, these methods often face limitations related to environmental conditions, accessibility, and waste collection. Gaps are in:

• Efficient and damage-free cleaning in niche areas (Propellers and other complex areas still often require divers, increasing risks and costs).
• Effective biofouling waste collection, management and disposal
• Environmentally friendly cleaning solutions to minimise the impact on marine ecosystems during the hull cleaning process.
• Balancing performance with affordability and adaptability to various vessel types

Gaps in existing efforts:

• ROVs or other robotic systems lack advanced navigation and cleaning capabilities, including for niche areas.
• Alternative cleaning methods like cavitation, laser cleaning, or enzymatic treatments are not available in current solutions.
• Systems for efficient capture, containment, and potentially on-site treatment of biofouling waste are needed for recycling.
• Alternative approaches to recycle or utilize collected biofouling waste as a resource.
• More antifouling coatings that minimize biofouling growth and facilitate easier cleaning.
• Digital models of hulls for simulating and optimizing cleaning procedures.