Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, In-Water Hull Inspection and Cleaning Trials

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is supporting the development of robotic in-water hull inspection and cleaning for ships in the Port of Singapore. MPA notes that marine biofouling significantly reduces a vessel's energy efficiency by increasing hydrodynamic drag, which leads to higher fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (MPA, 2025). It aims to "enhance Singapore's value proposition as a port, improve ships' operational reliability and support maritime decarbonisation efforts" (MPA, 2026).

Approach

Set clear environmental requirements. MPA issued a call for proposals in November 2025. Cleaning systems had to remove biofouling without damaging the hull coating, and capture all biofouling waste to prevent the release of invasive species. Filtration had to remove particles to less than 10 microns in all dimensions (MPA, 2025).

Link inspection to recognized ratings. Inspection systems had to give real-time feedback on data from before and after cleaning, generate reports automatically, and assess fouling against IMO biofouling ratings while working in confined port spaces. Solutions also had to comply with IMO and ISO standards and meet cybersecurity standards for industrial automation systems (MPA, 2025).

Co-fund innovation. Grants from the Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund cover up to 30 percent of project costs for non-SMEs and up to 50 percent for SMEs, for projects of up to 18 months (MPA, 2025).

Trial in live port conditions. In April 2026, MPA selected six partners for the trials: Alicia Bots, C-Leanship, Neptune Robotics, Oceanis Robotics, RINA and SEAHI Robotics. They will receive nearly SGD 3.7 million in R&D co-funding (MPA, 2026). The 18-month trials start in the second half of 2026. They will test solutions for hard-to-clean parts of the hull, such as propellers, rudders and sea chests, and for reliable operation in stronger currents. Debris collection without disrupting port operations is a key requirement (MPA, 2026).

Results

The trials begin in the second half of 2026, so no results have been published yet. MPA will evaluate the outcomes to make sure the solutions are deployed safely and in compliance with global requirements and standards (MPA, 2026).