Cargill and Neptune Robotics Join Singapore's Robotic Hull Cleaning Programme
An 18-month partnership will deploy AI-powered underwater robots on Cargill vessels under the Maritime and Port Authority's hull inspection and cleaning innovation programme.
Cargill and Neptune Robotics have signed an 18-month partnership under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's In-Water Hull Inspection and Cleaning Innovation Programme, announced 2 November 2026. AI-powered remotely operated vehicles will clean biofouling from Cargill vessels in the Port of Singapore, with inspections based on robot-collected data and before-and-after fuel consumption measurements. Neptune was selected by the MPA in April 2026 from 19 proposals submitted by 36 companies across nine countries, in a programme with six participants.
Citing IMO GloFouling figures, the companies note biofouling can raise a ship's greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent. The partnership is an example of a port authority acting as a market maker for maritime technology, running a funded test-bedding programme that lets a major operator adopt robotics with measured results.