Robot Cleans World’s Largest Crane Vessel

This March, a robot called Fleet Cleaner was deployed to clean both floaters of Heerema’s semi-submersible crane vessel Thialf in the Port of Rotterdam.

The Fleet Cleaner is equipped with a magnetic system that allows it to attach to vessels for cleaning above and below the waterline. The robot captures all removed fouling so that the water environment is not affected by the cleaning operation. Waste is collected, weighed and disposed of, and wastewater is filtered and clean water released.

The Thialf hull cleaning was the vessel's first since it last went to dry dock six years ago. Due to the special construction of the vessel, fouled areas such as the flat bottoms and the vertical side between vessel and quayside were hard to reach.

In addition, the weather conditions during the cleaning operation were harsh, with temperatures going below -10 degrees C.

Nevertheless, Fleet Cleaner was able to perform the Thialf hull cleaning. Both floaters were cleaned successfully, and it is expected that the vessel's resulting fuel and emission savings will be significant.

THe diverless Fleet Cleaner hull cleaning service is available 24/7 in all Dutch ports.