LARABICUS provides autonomous, in‑transit hull‑cleaning robots that operate like robotic cleaner fish, harvesting water kinetic energy to continuously remove biofouling while vessels are underway. The system navigates complex hull geometries, delivers soft, coating‑safe cleaning, and generates digital hull‑condition reports for compliance and predictive maintenance, helping shipping operators cut fuel consumption by up to 15% and eliminate biocidal chemicals.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Ship hulls accumulate biofouling such as algae, barnacles, and mussels, which increases drag, fuel consumption, and greenhouse‑gas emissions, and requires periodic cleaning that traditionally involves dry‑dock downtime, divers, and biocidal chemicals.
Solution
LARABICUS offers autonomous, in‑transit hull‑cleaning robots that operate like robotic cleaner fish. The devices harvest energy from the surrounding water for prolonged operation and navigate around complex hull geometries to remove fouling without manual intervention. After each cleaning run, the system generates a detailed hull‑condition report, providing continuous compliance documentation for international regulations. By maintaining a fouling‑free hull, the solution reduces fuel consumption by up to 15 % and eliminates the need for biocidal coatings, supporting lower emissions and invasive‑species risk. The service runs 24/7 while the vessel is underway, delivering predictive maintenance insights and preserving hull coating integrity.
Target Audience
Primary customers are commercial shipping companies and fleet operators that need to maintain regulatory compliance, reduce fuel costs, and minimize environmental impact of their vessels.
Features
- Water‑propelled autonomous robots that harvest kinetic energy from the flow for self‑sustained operation
- Soft, bio‑inspired cleaning mechanisms that remove fouling without damaging protective hull coatings
- Real‑time navigation and obstacle avoidance to clean around propellers, rudders, and other ship attachments
- Automated post‑cleaning inspection with digital reporting of hull condition and fouling‑free certification
- Continuous operation during voyages, eliminating dry‑dock downtime and manual diver cleaning
- Integration with fleet management systems for predictive maintenance and fuel‑efficiency analytics