Proactive hull grooming reduces fuel consumption by up to 15%

Crocs, costs, and coating failures

For Cruise Whitsundays, operating out of the Port of Airlie and Shute Harbour presented a combination of environmental and operational challenges.

Cruise Whitsundays runs on a precise schedule, transferring passengers from the Port of Airlie and Shute Harbour to surrounding iconic destinations. As drag increases on the vessel, fuel use and engine load rise, increasing costs and potentially jeopardising transit times. To make matters worse, traditional hull maintenance presented multiple challenges:

• Coating failures: Anti-fouling coatings were degrading faster than expected.
• Environmental hazards: Crocodile sightings in the port increased the risk of using human divers for biofouling removal.
• Visibility & access: The local waters suffered from poor visibility.

Our end-to-end strategy

Hullbot didn’t just deploy a robot; we deployed a holistic, cross-functional service designed to support Cruise Whitsundays from the water to the boardroom.

Phase 1: Localised operations & infrastructure

We launched a dedicated local service hub at the Port of Airlie and Shute Harbour. This ensured the fleet received consistent service without impacting normal vessel operations; cleaning during the night, with immediate access to parts and maintenance personnel.

Phase 2: Robotic execution in hazardous zones

Navigating in waters with very low visibility, our robotics team successfully targeted areas that needed extra attention. By using intelligent robotics, we bypassed the crocodile hazard and gently maintained hull coatings, effectively extending their lifecycle.

Phase 3: Data analytics & ROI reporting

Our Analytics team stepped in to assist in any of Cruise Whitsunday’s data blind spots. We instituted monthly ROI updates and detailed performance reports. By analysing fuel rates both before (on an agreed baseline) and after service, we provided the analysis and insights needed to optimise vessel performance and provide stakeholders with an accurate R.O.I.

Sailing smarter

The data speaks for itself, by keeping the hull consistently clear of biofouling, our analytics demonstrated up to 15% reduction in fuel consumption compared to a hull that had not been cleaned (normalised by RPM). More importantly, the regular cleans and data reporting empowered the operators to reduce RPMs whilst maintaining schedule. They maintained operational schedule while protecting their hull coatings, and optimising future maintenance and capital costs.

Lower fuel use, lower emissions, lower engine wear and an extension on coating life.