NYK & Neptune forge MoU to scale robotic hull cleaning for fleet-wide decarbonization.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Neptune Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their collaboration in robotic hull cleaning across NYK’s global fleet.

Previously, NYK has been an early adopter of Neptune’s AI-powered hull cleaning robots since 2022, and initial deployments showed that fuel savings could be up to ten times greater than the cleaning costs. Under the expanded partnership, the usage of robotic cleaning will scale up across more vessels, with the goal of achieving deeper reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of the agreement, NYK also participated in Neptune’s Series B funding round, reinforcing its strategic commitment to decarbonisation. Neptune’s system can clean a full-draft Capesize vessel 3–5 times faster than traditional methods, operate under currents up to 4 knots, work both above and below water, and protect hull coatings throughout the process. NYK’s move signals growing momentum in the shipping industry toward automation as a practical pathway for emissions reduction and operational efficiency.