Norwegian serial entrepreneur solves environmental problem on ships

‘We believe hull maintenance should be simple, affordable and should not interfere with the ship’s normal operations,’ says Shipshave founder and CEO Rune Freyer.

Hull cleaning has traditionally been a cumbersome and costly job, carried out by third parties while the ship is either on land or stationary in port. The process removes biofouling – marine organisms that grow on the hull below the waterline.

‘The methods used to date require fouling to build up on the ship over an extended period, leading to higher fuel consumption, pollution of marine environments and increased costs for shipping companies,’ Freyer explains.

The new robot eliminates the need to collect large quantities of marine organisms before cleaning the hull.

The robot can be used on almost any ship, but Shipshave’s robot is primarily designed for vessels over 150 metres long. The equipment is easy to use, allowing the ship’s crew to clean the hull themselves. This helps shipping companies reduce both fuel and maintenance costs.

According to Freyer, support from Innovation Norway has been crucial in enabling Shipshave to pursue this type of innovation.

‘Many people have not believed in my ideas until they have been proven to work. Fundamental innovation requires more patient capital than is available on the open market. Innovation Norway has provided us with that,’ he says.

Another key factor in Shipshave's success has been its strong partnerships with a range of shipping companies.

‘It is incredibly important to have customers on board, and I would particularly like to highlight Eramet. They have been very enthusiastic and allowed us to test our product on their chartered vessels, which has meant a great deal to us,’ he says.

Shipshave has received a startup loan and an environmental technology grant from Innovation Norway. Sigurd Urdal, Senior Advisor at Innovation Norway, is impressed by the company, which he believes has taken a highly proactive approach to the market.

‘Their success has required hard work and close dialogue with customers, who tested the equipment throughout its development,’ says Urdal.

He also explains that Innovation Norway considers the solution’s environmental benefits important.

‘The product addresses a specific, manageable environmental problem, and they have successfully brought it to market. Their team combines strong technology expertise with business acumen. That is essential for success,’ he emphasises.

Today, Shipshave's technology can clean almost any large vessel. For areas the robot cannot reach, the company has developed a new solution to complement the original robot.

‘We have working prototypes, but we place great emphasis on ease of use and want to ensure the solution is fully ready before bringing it to market,’ Freyer explains.

While working intensively on new technology, Shipshave has also recently expanded to Singapore. Its first employee outside Norway will work from Innovation Norway's shared workspace for startups there.

‘With its maritime industry, Singapore is an extremely important location for establishing a presence in international markets,’ Urdal points out.

Read more about how Shipshave presents its solution to international audiences on Business Norway.