Book 15, Question 91
How Do Robots Scrub the Bottoms of Big Ships?
Robots scrub ship bottoms to remove tiny sea animals like barnacles! A clean hull glides through the water more smoothly. That saves fuel and protects the sea.
More fun facts
- Fouling happens when plants and animals grow on the bottom of a ship.
- A dirty hull makes more friction in the water, so the ship needs more power and fuel to keep its speed.
- Fouling can also carry invasive species from one part of the ocean to another.
- One cleaning robot, called the HullSkater, clings to the ship with magnetic wheels.
- It has 4 high-definition cameras for steering and checking the hull.
- It scrubs with a rotating brush about 90 cm wide.
- The robot is kept on board the ship, so it can clean early and often.
- It removes bacteria and slimy biofilm before bigger growth can take hold.
Sources: jotun.com, jotun.com, maritime-enviro.org
Questions kids ask
Why not wait and scrape the hull later?
Removing built-up fouling has always been slow, hard and expensive. Early fouling can be brushed off without damaging the hull's coating.