Partner Technology
Two Robots. One Complete Solution.
Biofouling costs the global shipping industry over $150 billion annually in excess fuel burn and dry-dock spend. Tortuga Robotics — headquartered in Katy, Texas — deploys two best-in-class, industrial robotics systems: the Cliin HCR for heavy intervention cleaning and the Greensea IQ Everclean for continuous resident protection. Together, they give Tankers, Drillships, and FPSO operators a complete, diver-less hull management program regardless of severity.
The Problem
Biofouling adds up to 40% drag on a vessel hull, burning excess fuel and generating avoidable CO₂. Traditional dry-dock cleaning is expensive, infrequent, and puts divers at risk.
The Outcome
Fleet operators achieve up to 12% fuel savings, eliminate unplanned dry-dock calls, and maintain a continuous biofouling management record — all without a single diver in the water.
The Solution
Tortuga deploys two complementary robots: the Cliin HCR for heavy scheduled cleaning and the Greensea IQ Everclean as a permanent resident system — managed remotely from our operations center in Katy, Texas.
The Evidence
Validated across tanker and bulk carrier fleets. Independent trials confirm fouling removal rates exceeding 98%, with zero coating damage and full compliance documentation delivered within 4 hours of each dive.
Target Market Impact
The Cost of Fouling Is Not the Same for Every Vessel.
A transiting tanker pays for fouling in fuel burned per mile. A drillship or FPSO pays for it in thruster load — 24 hours a day, every day on location. The penalty mechanism is different, but the financial impact is equally severe. Tortuga's solutions are engineered to address both operating profiles.
Tankers — Transit Penalty
For tankers, fouling drag translates directly into excess fuel burned per nautical mile. Every percentage point of added resistance costs real dollars on every laden and ballast leg. A VLCC running 200+ days per year with moderate fouling can burn an additional $2M+ in fuel before the next dry-dock. Tortuga's Cliin HCR removes that fouling between dry-docks — and the Greensea Everclean prevents it from building up in the first place.
FPSOs & Drillships — Station-Keeping Penalty
FPSOs and drillships don't transit — they hold position. Fouling on a station-keeping vessel forces thrusters and dynamic positioning systems to work harder to maintain heading and position against current and wind. The fuel penalty is continuous, 24/7, and compounds over months on location. A heavily fouled drillship can burn $9M+ per year in excess thruster fuel. Tortuga's resident cleaning solution eliminates that waste entirely.
| Vessel Type | Operating Mode | Clean Hull Baseline | Light Fouling | Moderate Fouling | Heavy Fouling | Annual Cost Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLCC / Suezmax Tanker | Transiting (laden & ballast) | ~85 MT/day | +3–5% | +8–15% | +20–40% | $1.2M – $4.8M/yr |
| Aframax / MR Tanker | Transiting (laden & ballast) | ~35–55 MT/day | +3–5% | +8–15% | +20–40% | $500K – $2.1M/yr |
| Drillship | Station-keeping (DP mode) | ~120–180 MT/day (DP) | +5–8% | +12–20% | +25–45% | $2.8M – $9.5M/yr |
| FPSO | Station-keeping (moored) | ~40–80 MT/day (thrusters) | +5–10% | +15–25% | +30–50% | $1.5M – $6.2M/yr |
Fuel cost estimates based on $600/MT bunker fuel. Fouling drag penalties sourced from independent sea-trial studies. Station-keeping figures reflect DP thruster load increase under fouled hull conditions.
Heavy Cleaning Robot
Cliin HCR
"The Bulldozer"
When fouling is heavy, you need a machine that doesn't flinch.
The Cliin Hull Cleaning Robot (HCR) is a purpose-built system designed for aggressive fouling removal on commercial vessel hulls. Deployed at anchor or in port, it uses high-pressure rotating brush technology to strip barnacles, hard calcareous growth, and thick biofilm from steel hulls — without a diver in the water and without damaging anti-fouling coatings. Tortuga deploys the Cliin HCR as our scheduled intervention solution: when a tanker, drillship, or FPSO arrives with significant fouling accumulation, the Cliin goes to work.
Key Specifications
Scheduled Intervention
Deployed when a vessel arrives with measurable fouling accumulation — typically every 3 to 6 months depending on route and trading area. Tortuga coordinates deployment around port calls to minimize schedule impact.
Full Hull Coverage
The Cliin HCR navigates the full hull surface — flat bottom, bilge keel, boot top, and vertical sides — using onboard sensors to plan and verify complete coverage with no missed zones.
Documented Compliance
Every Cliin deployment generates a signed hull condition report with before/after fouling data, a cleaning coverage map, and biofouling management documentation — delivered to the vessel superintendent within 4 hours.
Continuous Hull Protection
Greensea IQ Everclean
"The Resident"
The robot that never leaves the hull.
The Greensea IQ Everclean is a permanently attached hull cleaning system that lives on the vessel between port calls. Rather than waiting for fouling to accumulate, the Everclean continuously patrols the hull — removing biofilm and soft growth before it can harden into barnacles. The result is a hull that maintains near-drydock cleanliness at all times, delivering consistent fuel savings on every voyage. For FPSOs and drillships on station, the Everclean eliminates the continuous thruster load penalty caused by hull drag. Tortuga offers the Everclean as a subscription service: the robot is installed, managed, and maintained by our team, and the operator simply benefits from a permanently clean hull.
Key Specifications
Always-On Protection
The Everclean operates continuously while the vessel is at sea or on station — cleaning the hull on a programmed patrol cycle so fouling never gets the chance to establish. No scheduling, no port calls, no intervention required.
Fuel Savings Every Voyage
By maintaining a consistently clean hull, the Everclean delivers measurable fuel savings on every voyage — not just after a cleaning event. Fleet operators report up to 12% reduction in fuel consumption versus unmanaged hulls.
Managed Subscription
Tortuga installs, monitors, and maintains the Everclean system from our Katy, Texas operations center. Fleet operators pay a simple per-vessel subscription and receive a clean hull, continuous fouling data, and full compliance documentation as a service.
Side by Side
Which Solution Is Right for Your Fleet?
Most fleet operators benefit from both — the Cliin HCR for vessels arriving with heavy fouling, and the Greensea Everclean as an ongoing resident system. Tortuga will assess your fleet and recommend the right combination.
| Attribute | Cliin HCR — The BulldozerThe Heavy Intervention Robot | Greensea IQ Everclean — The ResidentThe Resident Guardian |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning Method | High-pressure rotating brushes | Soft-bristle continuous patrol |
| Best For | Heavy barnacle & hard fouling removal | Biofilm & soft growth prevention |
| Service Model | Scheduled intervention cleaning | Resident subscription — always on hull |
| Deployment | Port call or at-anchor deployment | Permanently attached between port calls |
| Hull Impact | Pressure-controlled, coating-safe | Ultra-gentle, no coating wear |
| Reporting | Full hull condition report per dive | Continuous fouling data stream |
| Ideal Vessel | Tankers, drillships, FPSOs — heavy fouling | Any vessel on regular routes or station |
| Regulatory Docs | Compliance report included | Continuous compliance log |
Get Started
Ready to Put the Right Robot on Your Hull?
Our team in Katy, Texas will review your fleet's routes, trading areas, and current hull maintenance program and recommend the right combination of Cliin HCR and Greensea IQ Everclean deployments to maximize your fuel savings and compliance posture.
Company Overview
Tortuga Robotics One-Pager
Our full value proposition — the problem, the solution, the evidence, and the commercial model — in a single page. Share with your fleet management team or vessel superintendent.
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