To increase autonomous ship hull cleanings, Neptune Robotics invests $12 M in new Singapore factory
Neptune Robotics, a robotic hull cleaning services company based in Singapore that uses artificial intelligence (AI), has announced a significant manufacturing and R&D expansion with a $12 million investment in Singapore.
According to a statement released by the company on Monday, this is a part of its ongoing goal to address biofouling, one of the most expensive problems in the shipping sector with a major environmental impact.
The new facility will expedite Neptune’s mission to reduce fuel waste and maritime carbon emissions through automated hull maintenance, following a US$52 million Series B round led by Granite Asia in September 2025.
“Our investment in Singapore is a strategic milestone that will enhance our service provision to clients and position us to meet their current and future needs,
“With operators facing mounting fuel cost and emissions pressures, we’re scaling autonomous hull cleaning to help mitigate these issues and empower our clients to run more sustainable shipping operations,” said Elizabeth Chan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Neptune Robotics.
It has been observed that more shipowners are using Neptune’s solutions to deal with growing fuel prices and stricter environmental regulations.
Depending on operating conditions and vessel type, biofouling, or the buildup of marine organisms on vessel hulls, can increase greenhouse gas emissions by 25% to 30%.
In order to help operators increase fuel efficiency and possibly reduce operating costs in the face of fluctuating energy prices and mounting regulatory pressure, Neptune said it uses AI-enabled robots to remove such buildup without affecting hull coatings.
Increased capacity and the advancement of robotics and artificial intelligence are just two advantages of the new facility.
Neptune intends to reach 60 hulls per day by 2027 after increasing its local autonomous cleaning capacity by 400% by the end of 2026.
The company’s proprietary computer vision and machine learning capabilities will be advanced through specialized R&D operations housed in the new facilities in Singapore.
This will guarantee that robots can function around the clock in difficult circumstances like severe weather, powerful currents, and low-visibility water.
Neptune is bringing AI-driven hull maintenance to the center of international trade with a global network that currently covers 61 key ports in China and Singapore.
The company currently provides standardized, robotic hull cleaning at over half of the world’s international merchant stops and services 70% of Asia’s main shipping lanes.
Neptune claimed to have experienced substantial growth since joining the Singapore market in 2024, despite the local competitive environment becoming less intense.
It stated that by automating the hull cleaning procedure, the company ensures that ships continue to be fuel-efficient at sea while removing the need for human divers in hazardous situations.
