The award was given to CleanSubSea for its Envirocart in-water hull cleaning technology
CleanSubSea, a Western Australian technology firm, has been awarded Innovator of the Year at this year's Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition (Indo Exposition 2025) in Sydney
The award provides global recognition for the firm's Envirocart Gen3 system, a solution for the complete capture, containment, and filtration of marine growth during in-water hull cleaning operations on large commercial vessels.
Rory Anderson, managing director at CleanSubSea, has said the development and refinement of the Envirocart system provided an efficient, environmentally friendly solution to the regular removal of biofouling from ships, without removing the vessel from the water.
Anderson said, "In addition to the logistical advantage of operating while the vessel remains in water, our Envirocart Gen3 is specifically designed to protect the local marine environment, while lowering ship emissions through reducing drag and fuel use through more regular removal of biofouling. These key benefits of our in-water hull cleaning technology are growing in demand, as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) introduces its new biofouling management standards, expected to be ratified in 2026, which will increase requirements around environmental protection and lowering emissions."
The maritime industry is facing the global challenge of ship biofouling, resulting in significantly increased fuel consumption, up to 180%, leading to operational costs and environmental damage via the translocation of invasive species and accumulation of harmful chemicals.
The IMO is expected to increase its compliance activities in line with its updated standards, which may see vessels face port entry bans and other substantial penalties.
Developed for ferrous-hull vessels of 80m or more in length, Envirocart Gen3 is a system capable of ensuring 100% capture and containment of all removed marine growth and associated biocides, filtering to 10 microns and discharging only clean water back into the sea. The platform offers either a driver-driven or a remotely operated (ROV) option from topside, with real-time video.
This approach enables adherence to strict in-water hull-cleaning standards globally, offering unparalleled compliance certainty and protecting local marine biodiversity.
Anderson said, "This award is a testament to years of dedicated research and development by our talented team here in Western Australia. It further validates our vision: 'to develop a product of international significance that champions environmental stewardship, while delivering tangible economic benefits to the global maritime industry'."
