Built for compliance
Hullbot's proactive hull grooming is designed around recognised maritime standards, coating protection and environmental responsibility. Supported by independent testing, documented procedures and real-world operational experience.
Meets IMO Biofouling and In-Water Cleaning Guide
Hullbot’s proactive grooming solution is built around the IMO’s 2023 Biofouling Guidelines (MEPC.378(80)) and meets the performance standard in its 2025 in-water cleaning guidance (MEPC.1/Circ.918), verified by independent testing.
Our proactive grooming meets the ISO 6319:2026 standard
Our in-water grooming operation is in accordance with ISO 6139:2026, the international standard for conducting and documenting in-water cleaning of biofouling on ships. Hullbot patners with Bellona Foundation, the environmental NGO that initiated the Clean Hull Initiative, to help drive the development of the standard.
Matched to all coatings, by design
Hullbot’s cleaning is fully adjustable. Hullbot tunes brush type, applied force and speed to the coating on each vessel. That control is what keeps grooming safe across hard, ablative and foul-release systems: enough to keep fouling down, never enough to put the coating at risk. Tested and validated by third parties across every major coating category.
Types of coating
- FRC (Silicone)
- Ablative and self-polishing (SPC)
- Hard coating
Compatible with all coating brands and more
- International
- Jotun
- Hempel
- PPG
- GIT
- and more!
Independently validated through laboratory, water quality and real-world fleet testing
Fleet data
Every clean is logged with inspection footage before, during and after.
Independent lab testing
Accelerated lifecycle testing on ablative and FRC coatings. Simulated 10 years of repeated brush grooming in simulated seawater.
Water quality testing
Tested in Australia and Europe across multiple coatings, including self polishing copper. No measurable increase during cleaning.
In-situ trials
Coated panels groomed at controlled intervals of 2, 4, and 8 weeks in open seawater and monitored by an independent research group. This trial asesses the fouling accumulation across control.
No visible or measurable coating damage from grooming
2,500+
vessel cleans
20,000+
hours cleaning
3+
years of proven proactive grooming
No significant biocide or pollutant release during cleaning
Multiple independent water quality tests validate Hullbot’s high-frequency grooming keeps hulls clean without significant release of coating biocides or pollutants. Testing followed the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF’s) Australian Anti-fouling and In-water Cleaning Guidelines, Flemish port regulations, ISO 6319:2026 and IMO standards.
Independent Validation: Hullbot Grooming Has No Significant Impact on Water Quality
Biosecurity: no established fouling to transfer
Frequent, proactive grooming prevents macrofouling to establish and reduces invasive species transfer risk. By maintaining hulls at a fouling rating of 0–1, Hullbot supports biosecurity compliance and helps vessels trade with confidence.
No drag penalty, a stronger CII
Hull fouling increases drag, fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, putting your CII rating under pressure as targets tighten. We help restore and maintain hull efficiency, delivering immediate operational benefits without drydocking, fuel switching or capital investment.
CII reduction factors per IMO resolutions MEPC.338(76) and MEPC.400(83); A–E rating method per MEPC.354(78), under MARPOL Annex VI reg. 28. Vessel illustrative, actual rating depends on the ship's starting point.