Alicia Bots, C-Leanship, Neptune Robotics, Oceanis Robotics, RINA and SEAHI Robotics will receive close to S$3.7 million ($2.91 million) in research and development (R&D) co-funding from Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund to develop and trial in-water robotic hull inspection and cleaning solutions in Singapore’s port waters.
The projects will involve technology providers, service operators, classification societies and shipowners working together to validate the solutions under actual operating conditions, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, MPA has selected six partners under its Call for Proposals (CFP) to advance and scale up in-water hull inspection and cleaning solutions in the Port of Singapore, in support of more efficient and lower-emission shipping.
The CFP attracted strong industry interest, with 19 proposals received from 36 companies across nine countries.
It is noted that marine growth on a vessel’s hull — known as marine biofouling — increases hydrodynamic drag as the vessel moves through water. This leads to higher fuel consumption and greater emissions.
As one of the world’s busiest ports, Singapore handles a high volume of vessel traffic.
Efficient and safe hull cleaning solutions that do not disrupt vessel operations will enhance Singapore’s value proposition as a port, improve ships’ operational reliability and support maritime decarbonization efforts.
While commercial in-water hull inspection and cleaning solutions exist today, it remains challenging to deploy them reliably with higher levels of automation and efficiency in a busy port.
It is also noted that current solutions face limitations in handling complex parts of the hull such as propellers, rudders and sea chest, as well as operating reliably under stronger currents.
These challenges are compounded by the need to operate in tight spaces alongside vessels and to meet ports’ environmental requirements for debris collection without disrupting port operations.
The selected partners aim to address these challenges by leveraging advancements in robotics, automation, and remote operations.
The R&D co-funding from MINT Fund will support technology development and trials in live port conditions.
These trials will test how such solutions can operate efficiently and safely alongside port activities, as well as its cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability, with the goal of enabling large-scale deployment.
The selected partners will commence technology development and trials from the second half of 2026, over a period of 18 months.
MPA will work closely with industry partners to evaluate the outcomes and ensure that the solutions are deployed safely and in compliance with global requirements and standards.