Subdron

Biofouling is a major problem for ship owners, leading to increased fuel consumption, emissions, and maintenance costs. According to a report by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), biofouling increases fuel consumption by up to 40%, resulting in significant economic and environmental impacts. The market opportunity for a technology that addresses this problem is enormous, with the potential to save billions of dollars in fuel costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and meet increasing regulatory requirements.

Subdron has developed an autonomous underwater drone that uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect biofouling on ship hulls. The drone can operate autonomously for extended periods, reducing the need for human intervention and enabling continuous monitoring of ship hulls. The data collected by the drone is transmitted in real-time to a cloud-based platform, where it is analyzed using machine learning algorithms to identify the type and extent of biofouling.

The company is building on research activities at various institutions, including STO CMRE,  University of Oldenburg and Fraunhofer IBMT. 

We decided to invest, as subdron is built by an ambitious entrepreneurial team with specialized product know-how and easy access to a network of relevant market participants. Biofouling has not been addressed properly in the past by the shipping industry, while regulatory actions to harness the carbon reduction potential is imminent. With this advantage, the company can establish itself as a trailblazer in the dynamic shipping industry by leveraging its targeted product.