Biofouling study

Biofouling causes 7.5% fuel penalty in just 4 weeks

Rapid biofouling led to a 7.5% increase in fuel burn, restored instantly after grooming resumes

A high-speed passenger ferry fleet operating in a major Australian bay relies on Hullbot for routine hull grooming every two weeks.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, one vessel was temporarily taken out of service and remained stationary at berth with its grooming schedule paused.

The impact

  • Immediate efficiency loss: Upon returning to operation, the vessel suffered an immediate 7.5% increase in fuel burn in a matter of 4 weeks.
  • Instant recovery: Following a single Hullbot clean, fuel consumption instantly returned to baseline levels, reversing the entire 7.5% penalty.
Before and after

Hull condition, before and after

Drag the divider across each image to compare the hull before and after Hullbot grooming.

Pre-clean: 4 weeks of fouling growth on Intersleek 1100R
Post-clean
Pre-clean: 4 weeks of fouling growth
Post-clean
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