A Zhejiang-based robotics company is advancing the use of autonomous climbing robots for ship hull cleaning and maintenance, aiming to improve efficiency and safety in a traditionally hazardous industry. RobotPlusPlus, founded in 2015, has developed a flagship model capable of covering over 98 percent of a vessel’s hull surface, significantly outperforming manual cleaning methods in both speed and cost.

The company reports that its robotic system increases cleaning efficiency by a factor of five while reducing costs by 30 to 50 percent. This technology targets ships exceeding 100,000 deadweight tons, which can measure up to 21 meters in height and approximately 250 meters in length. Such vessels typically require extensive manual labor for hull descaling and cleaning—a process known to carry considerable safety risks.

Xu Huayang, founder of RobotPlusPlus, highlighted that the robotics market focusing on industrial manufacturing and aerial drones has become highly competitive, with companies like DJI dominating the latter segment. In contrast, the working-at-height sector, which includes tasks on tall ship hulls and industrial structures, still lacks mature robotic solutions despite substantial market demand.

Since its inception, RobotPlusPlus has deployed its climbing robots in over 100 shipyards across China and internationally. Analysts see the company’s focus on the shipping industry as strategically sound, noting that demand for hull maintenance is ongoing, with major clients including large state-owned enterprises. Such clients offer stable, long-term contracts, especially as shipyards face labor shortages for demanding and hazardous manual tasks.

Safety considerations provide a key impetus for adopting robotic solutions. Data from China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development indicates that falls from height accounted for nearly half of all construction-related accidents in 2020. Additionally, demographic trends reveal a declining working-age population, intensifying workforce challenges in physically demanding roles.

RobotPlusPlus integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms into its robots, enabling them to adapt rapidly to diverse tasks such as welding, non-destructive testing, and descaling. This embodied intelligence allows the machines to work not only on ship hulls but also on building facades and petrochemical storage tanks. The company has reported over 100,000 operational hours across more than 5,000 square kilometers of surface area, equivalent to roughly two and a half times the size of Shenzhen.

The amassed operational data also presents potential new revenue streams by providing clients with insights on maintenance and corrosion prevention strategies. Industry observers note that such data-driven approaches could enhance predictive maintenance and extend vessel service lives.

Market forecasts from the International Data Corporation suggest the global humanoid robot sector, valued at $1.4 billion last year, will grow drastically to an estimated $77 billion by 2030. Experts predict industrial use cases, including manufacturing and specialized operations like hull cleaning, will drive initial deployment before expanding into broader commercial and household applications.

While China has established advantages in policy support, market demand, and supply chains, some analysts point out the country still trails leading global competitors in producing high-end robotic models and key semiconductor components. Nevertheless, RobotPlusPlus’s developments represent a notable advance in automating high-risk maritime maintenance tasks through robotics and AI.