The Israeli startup NakAI has developed an autonomous robot for cleaning and inspecting ship hulls. The environmentally friendly technology is designed to remove initial biofouling from the hull during voyages. Even slight accumulations of fouling can increase fuel consumption by 10%, enough to affect a ship's EEDI numbers and the owner's financial costs.
Biological fouling is a critical factor impacting ship performance and pollution. Sediment and aquatic organisms accumulate rapidly on underwater surfaces, resulting in a 2.5% speed loss. When hulls are not proactively cleaned, further biofouling can lead to up to 80% additional fuel costs.
The AI-guided hull cleaning robot is easy to install, deploys autonomously during navigation, and removes early-stage mud and biofouling while inspecting the antifouling coating and hull integrity. Advanced algorithms instantly react to sea conditions and water flow rates, generating hull assessment reports, preventive maintenance actions, and sustainability information. This cutting-edge innovation also protects the coating, streamlines processes with AI, and ensures the ship operates efficiently at a competitive cost.
The company cleaned its first cargo ship in Israel in August 2021 and has garnered significant interest from Mediterranean shipowners and beyond.
NakAI's future products will feature certified inspection sensors. The robot will analyze the hull during cleaning, thereby alerting shipowners to any maintenance issues requiring special attention.
Caroline Haïat
Comments