Aussie startup Hullbot nets $16 million for its hull-cleaning

Sydney-based startup Hullbot has raised $16 million in Series A funding to scale its fleet of autonomous underwater robots designed to clean ship hulls, a move that could significantly reduce fuel consumption, operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions across the global maritime industry.

The funding marks a milestone in climate technology and marine robotics, giving Hullbot the capital to expand its operations globally and commercialise its robotic hull-cleaning service. The round signals growing investor confidence in technologies that make sustainability profitable, particularly in one of the world’s most emissions-intensive sectors: shipping.

Hullbot’s Mission is to Reduce Drag, Fuel and Emissions

Hullbot’s mission is deceptively simple yet profoundly impactful: keep ships clean, efficient and environmentally compliant through continuous, automated maintenance. Traditionally, hull cleaning has been reactive. Ship operators wait until layers of barnacles, algae and other marine growth, collectively called biofouling, accumulate before scheduling manual cleaning. This process often requires dry docking, diver crews, or long downtime, all of which cost time, fuel and money.

Hullbot flips this approach on its head. The company’s autonomous robots perform frequent, light cleanings, preventing biofouling before it becomes a drag on performance. The result: cleaner hulls, smoother voyages and measurable fuel savings. “Every percentage of drag removed means fuel saved and emissions reduced,” says the company. By maintaining an optimally clean surface, Hullbot estimates that ships can reduce fuel consumption by 10–20 percent, a figure that translates into significant emissions reductions and cost savings for large fleets.

Biofouling and Its Hidden Cost for Shipping is a serious problem

The global shipping industry moves over 80 percent of world trade, but it also emits nearly one billion tonnes of CO₂ annually. A major yet often overlooked contributor to this footprint is biofouling, the buildup of marine organisms on ship hulls that increases drag and forces vessels to burn more fuel.

Even a thin layer of slime can increase fuel use by up to 10 percent. Heavy fouling from barnacles and mussels can push that number far higher. Over time, the combination of higher fuel bills and increased emissions creates both economic and environmental strain.

Conventional cleaning solutions: dry docking, diver services or reactive robotic scrubbers are costly, sporadic and often damaging to hull coatings. They also interrupt vessel operations, an untenable prospect in a logistics-driven industry where time is money. Hullbot’s innovation lies not only in automation but in proactivity: clean continuously, not occasionally. That simple shift could unlock massive gains for ship owners and for the planet.

How Hullbot’s Autonomous Robots Operate ?

Hullbot’s underwater robots are designed to function like a team of tireless, intelligent janitors for ships. Compact, efficient and capable of operating day or night, these autonomous systems glide beneath the surface to perform gentle, continuous cleaning. Their brushes and sensors are tuned to preserve hull coatings while removing early-stage biofilm, ensuring that vessels maintain optimal smoothness without damaging protective layers. Each cleaning mission is mapped and logged, generating a digital record of hull condition that operators can use for maintenance planning and compliance.

The robot’s autonomy allows for frequent scheduling, even while ships are docked or during idle hours, meaning operations remain uninterrupted. Hullbot’s fleet can service multiple vessels across marinas, harbours, or shipping terminals, turning maintenance into a seamless, data-driven process. By cleaning often rather than occasionally, Hullbot eliminates the vicious cycle of buildup and heavy cleaning. Its approach transforms hull maintenance from a disruptive event into a continuous efficiency loop.

Funding Round of Hullbot. A Boost for Maritime Climate Technology.

The $16 million Series A round provides Hullbot with the resources to expand manufacturing, deploy new robotic units and scale its operations beyond Australia. The investment round was backed by leading climate-tech and deep-tech investors, recognising Hullbot’s unique position at the intersection of robotics, ocean sustainability and industrial decarbonisation.

The funds will also support the company’s R&D efforts, focusing on larger vessel classes, improved cleaning precision and expanded AI capabilities for inspection and predictive maintenance. For investors, Hullbot represents a rare opportunity: a technology that can directly reduce emissions while saving operators money, aligning economic incentives with sustainability outcomes.

The company plans to establish service hubs in key shipping regions, including Asia, Europe and North America, where global fleets can access autonomous cleaning on demand.

Shipping Efficiency, Ocean Health and Decarbonisation

The timing of Hullbot’s raise is no coincidence. The global maritime sector faces intensifying pressure to decarbonise, with new regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandating lower carbon intensity and stricter biofouling standards.

Biofouling not only affects performance but also contributes to the spread of invasive species which is a big growing environmental concern. As sustainability becomes both a regulatory and reputational priority, ship operators are actively seeking ways to maintain cleaner hulls without chemical or abrasive methods.

The broader maritime services market is massive, exceeding $100 billion annually and ripe for disruption by automation and AI. Within this space, Hullbot’s approach stands out: a climate-positive solution that improves efficiency, meets regulatory requirements and protects marine ecosystems.

Robotic maintenance is quickly becoming one of the most practical ways to decarbonise shipping and Hullbot is positioning itself as a global pioneer in that niche.

Strengths and Considerations of Hullbot

Hullbot’s key advantage lies in its combination of autonomy, scalability and environmental compatibility. Its robots don’t require specialised infrastructure, can operate flexibly around vessel schedules and deliver immediate economic benefits through lower fuel costs.

However, scaling this technology globally comes with challenges. Maritime conditions vary by region, from tropical fouling rates to cold-water environments, requiring adaptive hardware and software. Regulatory approval for in-water cleaning also differs across jurisdictions. Despite these complexities, Hullbot’s focus on continuous, non-abrasive maintenance and real-time data positions it well to navigate both technological and operational hurdles.

What’s Next for Sydney-based startup Hullbot ?

With fresh funding in place, Hullbot plans to scale up production and deploy larger fleets of robots capable of servicing different classes of ships from leisure yachts to commercial cargo vessels.

The company is also investing in AI-powered analytics that will provide clients with insights into hull condition, biofouling patterns and predictive maintenance schedules. By turning hull data into actionable intelligence, Hullbot aims to help operators make better decisions about fuel management, coatings and sustainability reporting. Long-term, the company envisions a global network of robotic cleaning stations operating autonomously across major ports, the maritime equivalent of electric-vehicle charging networks.

Hullbot’s Place in the Future of Maritime Technology

Hullbot’s rise embodies the intersection of robotics, AI and sustainability where technology is not only solving industrial inefficiency but also tackling climate impact at scale. Shipping may seem slow to innovate, but automation is steadily reshaping its operations from autonomous navigation to predictive logistics. Hullbot represents the next frontier: autonomous maintenance that’s both economically smart and environmentally sound.

By keeping ships clean and efficient, Hullbot isn’t just polishing hulls; it’s helping rewrite the playbook for sustainable ocean industry practices. As the company expands globally, its vision remains steady: a world where every ship sails cleaner, faster and greener: thanks to robots working quietly beneath the surface.