Neptune Robotics, a Singapore-based company that uses AI-powered robots to clean ship hulls, has announced a major expansion of its manufacturing and research facilities in Singapore with an investment of $12 million.
This move is part of Neptune’s goal to solve the problem of biofouling, which is when unwanted organisms stick to ships and increase fuel costs while harming the environment.
After raising $52 million in funding led by Granite Asia in September 2025, Neptune plans to use this new facility to grow faster. The aim is to reduce carbon emissions and fuel waste in the shipping industry by using automated hull cleaning.
“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,” said Elizabeth Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of Neptune Robotics. “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.”
More and more shipowners are starting to see the benefits of solutions from Neptune Robotics.
Biofouling—when marine growth builds up on a ship’s hull—can increase fuel use and raise greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25–30%, depending on the ship and conditions. Neptune’s AI-powered robots clean this growth safely without damaging the ship’s surface.
This helps shipowners save fuel, reduce emissions, and quickly recover their costs, especially at a time when fuel prices are changing and environmental rules are becoming stricter.
Neptune Robotics now operates in 61 key ports across Singapore and China, helping expand AI-powered hull cleaning in major global trade routes. The company currently supports about 70% of Asia’s main shipping lanes and offers robotic cleaning services at many of the world’s busiest ports.
Since entering the Singapore market in 2024, Neptune has grown quickly, even as competition has decreased. By using robots instead of human divers, the company makes hull cleaning safer and more efficient, while helping ships save fuel and perform better at sea.
Read More- TechCreate and pQCee Pte Ltd Partner to Build Secure Payment Terminals
