Neptune Robotics is a maritime technology enterprise headquartered in Singapore, dedicated to the underwater maintenance of commercial vessels through industrial-grade automation. Founded in 2018, the company addresses the critical operational challenge of biofouling—the accumulation of marine organisms such as barnacles, tubeworms, and algae on ship hulls—which significantly increases hydrodynamic drag, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The company operates a broad network of robotic service teams across major Asian maritime hubs, with a particularly strong operational footprint in ports such as Singapore, Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, and Guangzhou. Unlike traditional hull cleaning methods that rely on human divers using handheld brushes, Neptune Robotics deploys specialized Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). These crawling robots are designed to navigate the submerged vertical sides and flat bottoms of massive container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers, performing inspections and cleaning duties while the vessels are at anchor or berthed in port.
Central to its operational model is the use of cavitational waterjet technology. This method utilizes high-velocity microscopic air bubbles to dislodge marine growth without damaging the vessel’s expensive anti-fouling paint, a crucial requirement for shipowners concerned with long-term hull integrity. The robots are engineered to function effectively in challenging marine environments, capable of operating in waters with near-zero visibility, strong currents, and during night shifts. This capability allows shipping lines to schedule maintenance during cargo operations without incurring delays or disrupting tight sailing schedules.
The company serves a client base that includes top-tier global shipping lines and commodity traders seeking to decarbonize their supply chains. By maintaining clean hulls, the company assists fleet operators in achieving tangible reductions in fuel wastage, thereby supporting compliance with international maritime environmental regulations. In addition to cleaning, the robots provide data-driven hull inspections, offering ship managers high-definition visual evidence of hull conditions to inform maintenance planning.
Backed by prominent venture capital firms and strategic industry partners, including major Japanese shipping conglomerate NYK Line and Granite Asia, Neptune Robotics has rapidly scaled its capabilities. Following a significant Series B funding round in late 2025, the company has focused on expanding its fleet of robots and extending its service coverage to additional international ports, cementing its role as a key enabler of automated, low-carbon shipping operations.
