Here’s Neptune Robotics! This Singapore-based startup builds underwater robots that make cleaning shipping vessels faster and safer.

• Now, they just raised a $52M Series B!

Investor check. Granite Asia led the round, while Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), one of the world’s largest shipping companies, joined in as a strategic investor.

‍

🔱 Oh, barnacles

Massive ship carriers can transport tons of bulk cargo across continents. 

But one thing that can slow down their journey? 

Biofouling. It’s the accumulated growth of organisms on submerged surfaces in vessels. Think barnacles, seaweed, and mollusks. 

• Biofouling can increase a ship’s fuel consumption by up to 40%, driving up operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Hull cleaning is mostly driven by human work, which can be risky. 

‍

🚢 Squeaky clean

Neptune’s underwater robots can replace human divers by cleaning ship hulls 3 to 5 times faster, automatically and safely.

• Its systems can clean full draft capesize vessels in 24 hours, even in 4-knot strong currents and in murky waters. 
• Their tech helps shipping companies cut fuel costs, lower emissions, and remove humans from dangerous work.

‍

🇯🇵 What’s with the $$$? 

They’ll invest in research and development, new robotics systems, and AI-driven service platforms.

• Oh, and they’ll also expand into 20 markets worldwide, with Japan as a potential key hub.