It’s no secret that hull maintenance is a significant cost for ship owners, not only in direct costs but also because poor maintenance can lead to expensive and avoidable repairs. Data shows that 87% of structural failures start with corrosion. Improved efficiency in hull maintenance can also have a significant environmental impact, as it’s estimated that approximately 37 million Metric Tons of Fuel are used to fight hull fouling.

In recent years, there have been myriad monitoring solutions to help identify when hull maintenance is necessary. However, tech start-up AliciaBots, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, goes beyond simply monitoring by providing a solution that removes hull fouling through robots.

Once implemented, AliciaBots’s magnetic crawler robot, RoverClean, can proactively be used above and below the water’s surface to reduce hull fouling while the ship is anchored or underway. The crawlers use soft nylon roller brushes to remove marine growth while employing automated navigation capabilities to reduce crew involvement and human error further. The company estimates its robots would take 8-10 hours to clean one side of a 240-meter vessel, and they claim using its bots can even eliminate the need for traditional diving operations.  Another benefit of the crawlers is that they can also be used to inspect the hull’s structural integrity through corrosion monitoring and ultrasonic scanning.

Despite some challenges, such as damage to the robot’s tires due to heavy barnacle fouling, the company has quickly adapted by improving component materials and refining the robot’s operational speed. The company has also secured strategic partnerships and raised funding, notably through the Safetytech Accelerator program, which has helped it gain industry traction. Although AliciaBots has raised only $40,000 in funding, their technology is poised to scale, with growing interest from ports and ship operators in Asia and the Americas.

While there is little public data on how much funding AliciaBots has raised to date, the company has already signed up several vital players in the maritime industry, including the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Cargill, and Eastern Pacific shipping. While other players are moving into this space, such as Waste Robotics, Near Earth Autonomy, and Argo AI, there is little doubt that this is a solution that shipowners will see great value in.

AliciaBots’ robotic solution represents a promising step forward for the maritime industry, addressing economic and environmental concerns. With growing regulations around hull fouling and its impact on fuel efficiency and emissions, having a robot that allows for more frequent hull cleaning is a game-changer.

Looking ahead, AliciaBots aims to expand its product offering with a modular design that could tackle various cleaning and inspection tasks, including hold cleaning. As the company continues to refine its technology and enter new markets, it is well-positioned to become a leading provider of eco-friendly hull maintenance solutions.