Hullbot

Hullbot is a Sydney, Australia-based maritime robotics company that operates a frequent, autonomous hull-cleaning service for vessel operators. Rather than the conventional model of infrequent, intensive cleaning in dry dock or by diver crews, Hullbot's robots perform light, regular "grooming" passes that remove biofilm and slime before barnacles and other hard fouling can attach. Reducing biofouling lowers hydrodynamic drag, which the company and press coverage link to fuel consumption reductions reported in the range of 10-26%.

The robots use AI and camera-based vision to navigate and clean without human intervention, and can work day or night around a fleet's existing operating schedule. Brushes and cleaning pressures are adjusted to the vessel and coating type, including silicone coatings. Beyond cleaning, the robots handle propellers and niche areas, perform diver-free inspections, and generate 3D maps and logged records of hull condition, which Hullbot packages as asset-intelligence reporting on vessel performance and hull condition over time. The company states it liaises with local regulators on operators' behalf regarding environmental compliance.

Hullbot frames its work against maritime decarbonisation goals, citing the International Maritime Organization's net-zero-by-around-2050 target, biofouling's contribution to more than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the role of antifouling coatings in releasing biocides and ocean microplastics, and biofouling as a vector for roughly 80% of invasive marine species transfer. It has stated a mission of abating half a gigaton of CO2e per year by 2035.

Founding story

Founder and CEO Tom Loefler started his career as a boat builder constructing houseboats before moving into industrial design, and founded the company after identifying biofouling as a persistent and costly problem in global shipping, given that vessels traditionally are cleaned only infrequently in dry dock and spend much of their operational life dragging fouling growth through the water.

Business model

Hullbot sells hull maintenance as a recurring service rather than selling robots, deploying its own autonomous underwater units to clean customer fleets frequently and on a schedule that fits vessel operations. The company markets the service as requiring no upfront costs to the operator, with value delivered through fuel savings, emissions reductions and inspection/condition reporting. It is establishing international service hubs to deliver the service in additional shipping regions.

Service-based revenue from paid hull cleans and associated inspection and reporting for fleet operators; the company reports having delivered more than 1,000 paid hull cleans.

Traction

More than 1,000 paid hull cleans delivered for ferry operators and small cruise vessels globally, with more than 3,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions reported prevented. Reported fuel-consumption reductions of 10-26%, with an average claim of 15%. Named fleets served include NRMA Marine, Sydney Ferries, Cruise Whitsundays (Journey Beyond), FRS Clipper, Ultramar and APFC Fastcat.

Latest developments

In November 2025 Hullbot announced a $16 million Series A led by Regeneration.VC with Climate Tech Partners, Katapult Ocean, Folklore Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Rypples, NewSouth Innovations, Bandera Capital, Artesian and Impact Ventures/Ocean Impact Collective. Proceeds are earmarked for Australian-built robotics production, development of larger robotic platforms including the planned "BigBot" that can travel with a vessel, expansion to larger vessel classes, and international service hubs. The company also recently won the Australian Good Design Award of the Year.