Neptune Robotics raises US$52M to expand deployment of boat cleaning droids

These robots are already cleaning the hulls of large ships in 61 ports throughout Asia

Rowan Dunne

Published

2 days ago

Singaporean aquatic robot maker, Neptune Robotics, has raised millions to propel global expansion outside of Asia. Neptune is already active in 61 key ports throughout the continent and aims to expand its operations throughout over two dozen countries.

The company revealed Monday that it has pulled US$52 million together in a strategic funding round backed by Japanese shipping major Nippon Yusen KK (OTCMKTS: NYUKF) (FRA: NYKA) (TYO: 9101). The capital raise was led by Singapore’s venture capital firm Granite Asia.

Neptune Robotics makes robots that clean the hulls of large commercial ships with greater efficiency and speed than divers could. Their employment is also much safer than human labour. These droids address the critical problem of biofouling or build up of marine organisms under and on the sides of boats. They can operate around the clock in clear or dirty waters.

Neptune’s key selling point is its ability to reduce fuel consumption among oceanic companies immensely. Clearing the critters, algae and gunk off the bases of the ships can reduce fleet fuel usage by up to 30 per cent, according to Neptune.

Inefficiency resulting from dirty boats costs the shipping industry about US$45 billion annually while polluting the environment, Neptune says.

AI integrated, unsurprisingly

Like most modern-day technologies, these robots are powered by artificial intelligence. They feed data to large language models like China’s Deep Seek and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 to learn how to optimize efficiency.

“We use cutting-edge robotic technology to deliver effective and efficient hull cleaning and maintenance services,” says CEO Elizabeth Chan, “as well as data-driven hull analysis and fuel savings traceability for the global fleet.”

Neptune is shooting to complete an initial public offering in 2027, as highlighted by Bloomberg this week. Chan told The Edge Singapore that AI for hull cleaning will be equally as impactful as Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE: UBER) (LON: 0A1U) has been on the taxi hailing industry.

In addition to its environmental and economic benefits, Robotic hull cleaning also helps minimize ecological risks from invasive species by stopping ships from transporting them into new environments.

“We are impressed by Neptune Robotics’ highly efficient hull cleaning technology,” said NYK shipping manager, Hidehiko Sato, in a news release from Neptune, “which maximizes protection to hull coatings and contributes to fuel savings and GHG emissions reduction.”

By the end of 2025, Neptune is shooting to be capable of cleaning 150 ships on a monthly basis. The robotics specialist was only capable of cleansing 25 one year ago.

💧日本郵船とNeptune Robotics、水中船体クリーニングの協業拡大へ💧

日本郵船株式会社と、ロボティクスによる船体クリーニング事業者のNeptune Roboticsはこのたび、日本郵船の船隊全体の燃料効率向上および国際海運の脱炭素化推進を目的として、協業パートナーシップを拡大する覚書を締結しました。… pic.twitter.com/ylaYmkUZhq

— 日本郵船 / NYK Line Official (@nyklineofficial) September 29, 2025

Robotic ship cleaning is a multi-million-dollar market

Multiple market researchers have placed the value of the robotic hull cleaning sector at approximately US$150 million. They estimate that it will expand significantly in the coming years, potentially reaching a valuation exceeding half a billion by the end of the decade.

This generalization comes from credible sources such as Verified Market Reports, Dataintelo and Business Research Insights. They expect 12 to 15 per cent compound annual growth going forward.

Neptune’s key competitors in the field include Australian Hullbot, an early adopter in Oceania; Norway’s Shipshave, a slime remover targeting European fleets; and EcoSubsea, another Norwegian firm which also operates in Singapore.

Despite still being a private company, Neptune was recently added to the Singapore Exchange’s NextGen Tech 30 list. It spotlights early-stage companies driving technological innovation throughout Asia in fields such as AI, logistics and fintech.

Neptune is arguably Asia’s number one player in the robotic hull cleaning field.

We’re on the list! 🏆 Neptune Robotics has been named to the NextGen Tech 30 @ SGX ! Huge thanks to our incredible team, clients, and partners. This is just the beginning. Join us on the journey of AI robots that clean ship hulls in zero visibility, strong currents, 24/7. pic.twitter.com/V2ZM5qxSPz

— Neptune Robotics (@NeptuneRobots) September 18, 2025