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FRS Clipper partners with Hullbot to keep its ferry hulls clean

August 14, 2024

Seattle-based FRS Clipper has called upon Hullbot to have the hulls of its ferries cleaned every second week by the robotic modules operated by the company’s technicians.

“Hullbot’s intention isn’t to clean dirty hulls, but to maintain clean ones,” notes Kevin Mehrer, FRS Clipper’s technical superintendent.

The compact robots use soft bristles to clean hull surfaces before microbial growth can form. The regular cleaning prevents biofouling that can result in the transfer of aquatic invasive species, as well as the drag on a hull that requires greater fuel consumption.

Both the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the State of Washington Department of Ecology have provided the necessary permitting for Hullbot’s cleaning.