Amphibian LARS&DMS: Launch, Recovery and Debris Management Systems to accelerate use of robotic cleaning and decrease fuel consumption and GHG emissions in cargo and other maritime vessels.
Lead Participant:
INNVOTEK LTD
Abstract
**More than 80% of world trade is carried by ship with over 85,200 cargo vessel visits to UK ports in 2021\. GHG emissions from international shipping worldwide in 2022 was over 707 million tonnes CO2 \[Statista 2024\]. Cutting emissions from sea transportation is seen as vital in tackling climate change and limiting global temperature rise.**
Marine biofouling increases hydrodynamic drag on ocean-going vessels, reducing fuel efficiency and increasing GHG emissions by 5%-50%, depending on the nature and severity of fouling. Increased loading on the hull can cause corrosion and crack formation leading to failure of the hull structure (J Mater Sci, 2022).
Ship hull cleaning and inspections play a vital role in maintaining structural integrity with regular inspection and certification required to ensure the vessel is seaworthy (UK MCA and EU PSC Directive). However, while ship hull cleaning leads to reduced GHG emissions there are environmental concerns that biofouling on ships is a key factor in the spread of invasive species around the globe. \[Parliament.UK, 2019\]
**Our solution, Amphibian LARS&DMS** is Launch-and-recovery (LARS) and Debris Management System (DMS) that can be fitted to a 15-20m workboat either as OEM or a retro-fit, to deploy our Amphibian robot for cleaning and inspecting cargo vessel hulls. These will be modular systems designed to be easily adapted to vessel or onshore mounting and, as such will be scalable for increasing size of vessels to be cleaned/inspected. Amphibian LARS&DMS offers all-in-one cleaning and detailed inspection services to ship owners, 4 times quicker and at 40% less cost than diver/ROV inspections. This will promote regular cleaning and inspections of ship hulls, reducing fuel used and hence GHG emissions by at least 10% with the potential to save over 320 million tonnes CO2/year in UK and Europe alone.
Marine biofouling increases hydrodynamic drag on ocean-going vessels, reducing fuel efficiency and increasing GHG emissions by 5%-50%, depending on the nature and severity of fouling. Increased loading on the hull can cause corrosion and crack formation leading to failure of the hull structure (J Mater Sci, 2022).
Ship hull cleaning and inspections play a vital role in maintaining structural integrity with regular inspection and certification required to ensure the vessel is seaworthy (UK MCA and EU PSC Directive). However, while ship hull cleaning leads to reduced GHG emissions there are environmental concerns that biofouling on ships is a key factor in the spread of invasive species around the globe. \[Parliament.UK, 2019\]
**Our solution, Amphibian LARS&DMS** is Launch-and-recovery (LARS) and Debris Management System (DMS) that can be fitted to a 15-20m workboat either as OEM or a retro-fit, to deploy our Amphibian robot for cleaning and inspecting cargo vessel hulls. These will be modular systems designed to be easily adapted to vessel or onshore mounting and, as such will be scalable for increasing size of vessels to be cleaned/inspected. Amphibian LARS&DMS offers all-in-one cleaning and detailed inspection services to ship owners, 4 times quicker and at 40% less cost than diver/ROV inspections. This will promote regular cleaning and inspections of ship hulls, reducing fuel used and hence GHG emissions by at least 10% with the potential to save over 320 million tonnes CO2/year in UK and Europe alone.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| INNVOTEK LTD | £50,468 | £ 35,328 |
Participant |
||
| ABERDEEN HARBOUR BOARD | £20,940 | £ 12,564 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Shahid Mughal (Project Manager) |