Future of Robotic Vessel Hull Cleaning

Boat cleaning is tough, especially the hull. WhenMany do not use these in-place systems and
inventors help entrepreneurs to find better technologiesapparently those Marina's who do have problems with
and robotic systems to clean hulls of vessels the fistsizes and shapes of the various different types of
thing they ask is: "How big are the Vessels you intendboat hulls. For instance a sail boat, tri hull, catamaran,
to clean?" Generally boat cleaners are looking for aetc. This limits your market base.
robotic type unit, which cleans without the use ofAdditionally a harbor in CA, WA, OR, MA, VA, MD, FL
people or a unit which requires no one to bewould never let you put one of these roller systems in,
underwater cleaning and to clean these boats in theand even if you got permission, it would be shut down
water.by the first environmentalist who came by claiming you
There are several ways to do this and this mayare removing oxygen from the water when you take
include robotic underwater UUVs (underwateralgae and debris off the boat hull. These
unmanned vehicles). There are a couple of companiesenvironmentalists are dogs, they are completely out of
in Florida using some MIT equipment cleaning largecontrol.
ships. Also a former Stanford Student who is gettingThere is a Marine Catalog and Boating Magazine,
contracts for cargo ship and cruise ship industrywhich has them for sale and you can see pictures of
currently in LA.them. Most operators of marinas will not buy one, due
If you are taking about small vessels, then there areto environmental issues. The best roller type units
several units and you will still need a platform to workadjust for each size of vessel and scrub like a rollover
from and some areas the EPA will be upset becauserobotic car wash. Here is a designer of such a system
removing some of that old crud will cause issues within the UK.
oxygen levels and thus it also becomes a fish andSome of this is old information and personal research,
games issue. Using rollers on a system underwaterbut a good place to start when looking for a system
and bringing the boats to the system is another wayto clean ships or boat hulls. Good luck cleaning those
to do it.boats.