Cargill and Neptune Robotics to Trial Robotic Hull Cleaning in Singapore
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Cargill and Neptune Robotics have launched an 18-month partnership to trial AI-powered robotic hull cleaning and inspection on Cargill vessels operating in the Port of Singapore. The initiative falls under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) In-Water Hull Inspection and Cleaning Innovation Programme, backed by its Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund.
Neptune was one of six companies selected in April 2026, following a call for proposals that drew 19 projects from 36 companies across nine countries. The other partners chosen by the MPA were Alicia Bots, C-Leanship, Oceanis Robotics, RINA and SEAHI Robotics, according to Xinde Marine News.
What will be tested
The partnership will evaluate Neptune's remotely operated cleaning robots, its hull inspection technology and its Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models under real-world operating conditions. Cargill will provide vessels, operational expertise and before-and-after performance data to measure cleaning efficiency and fuel savings. The agreement builds on more than four years of prior cooperation between the two companies, Xinde Marine News reported.
Marine growth on hulls increases drag, fuel consumption and emissions; according to figures cited by both outlets, drawn from research under the IMO's GloFouling Partnerships project, biofouling can raise a vessel's greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%, depending on vessel type and operating conditions.
Statements
Elizabeth Chan, co-founder and CEO of Neptune Robotics, said Singapore, one of the world's busiest ports, is an ideal setting to demonstrate what the next generation of hull cleaning can achieve, and that a partner of Cargill's scale offers varied operating conditions that will yield results relevant to the industry. For her part, Ying Ying Lim, Vice President of Cargill Ocean Transportation for Asia-Pacific, said the trials will help build evidence on whether robotic cleaning can be deployed safely and consistently at greater scale, supporting the decarbonization of maritime supply chains.
Neptune's Magneto robot uses magnetic traction and cavitation jets to remove biofouling without damaging hull coatings, and the company operates across 61 ports in Singapore and China, with the capability to clean vessels while cargo is being loaded or discharged. According to Xinde Marine News, Neptune can clean a fully laden Capesize vessel in 24 hours, operating day and night in clear or turbid waters, even with currents of up to four knots. The trials will assess safety, operational performance, cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, with the results intended to support wider adoption of in-water hull maintenance across Singapore's port network.
