Money Pours in for Hull Cleaning Technology
In April this year, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee approved guidance on in-water cleaning of ships' biofouling and also approved a proposal for the development of a legally binding framework for the management of biofouling.The move comes in recognition that biofouling is a key contributor invasive species and to greenhouse gas emissions. Biofouling can increase fuel consumption by up to 30%, costing the shipping industry $40-50 billion annually and driving excess emissions.Robotics companies are gearing up.This week Hullbot has closed a A$16 million ($10.3 million) Series A round
Matson Partners with WhaleSpotter
Matson has entered a product agreement with WhaleSpotter to purchase and deploy a whale detection system developed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), making Matson the first container shipping company to deploy this advanced marine protection technology.The WhaleSpotter system combines thermal and AI-driven detection and 24/7 real-time verified monitoring to reliably detect whales up to three nautical miles away, day or night. The system's real-time alerts give vessel crews the opportunity to adjust course and reduce the risk of whale strikes.In 2023, Matson provided WHOI with a
I-SEAMORE Project Concludes with a Tested Maritime Surveillance Platform
The I-SEAMORE project, co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under the Grant Agreement 101073911, officially concluded, having successfully delivered an integrated platform for maritime surveillance. Developed over two and a half years, the platform leverages AI, Big Data fusion, and multi-asset orchestration (UxVs) to provide European Maritime Authorities with enhanced situational awareness and operational readiness.The project marked its conclusion with the I-SEAMORE Final Demonstration on September 16th in Tróia, Portugal, and the I-SEAMORE
Inhaca Sub Launches AI-Driven Underwater Hull Inspection System
Inhaca Sub Diving Services – Mozambique has announced the launch of Smart Hull Sight (SHS), a new AI-powered platform that digitalizes underwater hull inspections through 3D photogrammetry, corrosion detection, and CII performance analytics.Developed by Inhaca Sub’s diving and ROV specialists, SHS enables shipowners, class societies, and port operators to assess hull condition with unprecedented precision.The system automatically detects corrosion, estimates anode life, and generates digital-twin visualizations for remote review via its Inspection Theater module.Key features:AI corrosion
Maritime Firms Launch PntGuard to Counter GPS Spoofing Surge
Tschudi Shipping Company, NAL Research and Norway-based SGM Technology have launched PntGuard, a maritime navigation system designed to detect and counter increasing cases of GNSS and GPS signal spoofing at sea.The standalone bridge system alerts crews the moment a vessel’s official position is falsified and provides authenticated location data when satellite navigation inputs are compromised.Developers say the product aims to address the growing risk of electronic interference and manipulation of ship positions, which can cause collisions, unintended entry into restricted waters, or trigger
Toqua, Weathernews Join Forces for AI-Driven Vessel Voyage Optimization
Weathernews, a Japan-headquartered weather intelligence firm, and Belgium’s Toqua, a developer of physics-informed AI for ship performance modeling, have entered a strategic partnership to integrate vessel-specific performance models into Weathernews’ voyage optimization systems.The collaboration aims to improve fuel efficiency and operational predictability by combining Toqua’s AI-trained vessel performance models with Weathernews’ weather routing and optimization algorithms, enabling more accurate voyage planning based on how individual ships perform under varying operational
Hefring Marine, Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation Partner to Advance Fishery Operations
Icelandic tech company Hefring Marine announced a new partnership with the Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation (NIFF), which was formed in early 2025, to pilot solutions that support the fishing fleet in tackling rising fuel costs, improving safety, and reducing emissions.With support from the previous Marine Environment & Fisheries Fund from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, this initiative will see members of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organization (NIFPO) and the Anglo Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organization
Fincantieri, Defcomm to Jointly Advance Naval Units and Surface Drones
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has signed a strategic agreement to accelerate the development of autonomous surface units developed by Italian start-up Defcomm, which specializes in unmanned solutions for the maritime sector.The agreement focuses on a co-investment partnership to accelerate the development and industrialization of surface drones designed by Defcomm, which have already passed long run and endurance tests.These drones are designed for surveillance, intelligence, and patrol missions and able to operate in fully autonomous mode, remote control, and manual control.The partnership will
Seatools to Equip Jan De Nul’s New Subsea Vessel with Fall Pipe ROV
Subsea technology company Seatools has been awarded a contract by Jan De Nul for the design and delivery of a Fall Pipe ROV (FP-ROV) that will form a key system of the Belgian contractor’s recently ordered subsea rock installation vessel, the George W. Goethals.The ROV will play an essential role in the vessel’s mission to protect critical subsea infrastructure by enabling highly accurate and controlled rock placement around cables and foundations, safeguarding assets that underpin global energy transmission.The Fall Pipe ROV will be installed at the lower end of the vessel’s vertical
August 2025
