The project is being carried out in collaboration with Sustaintech Marine, the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and Grenland Port. The project is supported by Innovation Norway.
“Our ambition is to develop MultiCleaner into a complete solution where we not only clean the hull but also manage the material that is removed. This is becoming increasingly important in an international market with growing attention to biofouling and the spread of invasive aquatic species,” says Svein Cato Rund, Managing Director of Trosvik Oceantech.
MultiCleaner is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). It is developed for professional ship hull cleaning without the need for divers to carry out the cleaning operation itself.
From hull cleaning to controlled water treatment
Marine growth, commonly referred to internationally as biofouling, includes organisms that attach themselves to ship hulls and other submerged surfaces.
When biofouling is removed during cleaning, biological material can be released into the surrounding water. Organisms transported by vessels between geographical regions may therefore contribute to the spread of invasive species and affect local ecosystems.
Hull cleaning operations can also release microplastics and other unwanted substances from hull coatings.
This is an important reason why ports and authorities are paying increasing attention to how in-water hull cleaning is carried out and how waste from the operation is managed.
Trosvik Oceantech aims to address this challenge by integrating water treatment into the MultiCleaner system.
Cleaning water containing material removed from the hull will be treated as part of the operation, preventing untreated water from being discharged back into the sea.
“We believe the future of hull cleaning must be about more than achieving a clean hull. The operation must also be carried out in a controlled and efficient manner, with documented management of the material that is removed,” says Rund.
Technology to be validated through testing
The project brings together expertise from technology, research and port operations.
Sustaintech Marine will develop and optimise the oxidation-based water treatment system and work on its integration with MultiCleaner.
NIVA will conduct independent water quality analyses and validate the effectiveness of the treatment process. This will provide a scientific basis for documenting the system’s performance against relevant and emerging international requirements.
Grenland Port will provide quay facilities and personnel for testing, while also facilitating contact with shipowners and other maritime stakeholders.
“Independent documentation will be important. For ship service companies, shipowners and ports, it is not enough for a solution to work technically. They need to know what happens to the material that is removed and the quality of the water when it is returned to the sea,” says Rund.
The development project runs from May 2026 to August 2027.
Addressing two environmental challenges in one operation
Effective biofouling management has both operational and environmental implications.
Biofouling increases friction between the hull and the water. This increases the vessel’s energy demand and can result in higher fuel consumption and emissions.
Regular hull cleaning can help maintain the vessel’s hydrodynamic performance and thereby reduce energy consumption.
At the same time, the cleaning operation itself must be carried out in a way that limits the risk of spreading marine organisms.
“This combination is precisely what makes the solution interesting. A clean hull can reduce a vessel’s energy consumption, while controlled treatment of the cleaning water can reduce the local environmental impact of the cleaning operation itself,” says Rund.
Developed for a market facing stricter requirements
International guidelines and growing attention to biofouling are making environmentally responsible hull cleaning increasingly important for shipowners, ports and maritime service providers.
Trosvik Oceantech believes this will increase demand among professional ship service companies for solutions that combine efficient cleaning with control, documentation and treatment of cleaning water.
MultiCleaner already has operational experience from Panama, where one unit is in service with a strategic partner. This experience provides Trosvik Oceantech with valuable insight into the needs of an international market where requirements for hull cleaning continue to evolve.
“We want to develop our MultiCleaner ROV in line with the requirements our customers will face in the years ahead. Integrated water treatment is an important step towards a solution that combines efficiency, operational quality and environmental responsibility,” says Svein Cato Rund.
About Trosvik Oceantech
Trosvik Oceantech AS is a maritime technology company based in Brevik, Norway, and part of Trosvik Group. The company develops ROV-based solutions for professional ship hull cleaning, with MultiCleaner as its flagship product.