EcoMarine Technologies Inc., a Canadian company has developed an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) to reduce the spread of invasive Zebra Mussels.
The underwater cleaning device called OmniBot uses pressure thrusters instead of magnets to bind to surfaces such as concrete and ship hulls, where Zebra Mussels can quickly spread. By using cavitating jets instead of scraping or brushing, the OmniBot effectively removes mussels and other hard biofouling without damaging underwater surfaces. The OmniBot cleaning system is designed to send the fouling material through a filtration system; clean water is then put back, having removed the mussel spores.
Billions of dollars are spent each year removing Zebra Mussels and other species from infrastructures and from commercial vessels. Large vessels using OmniBot can be regularly de-fouled while at anchor or in port. Ship hull cleaning reduces carbon emissions by benefiting the ship’s fuel efficiency. Time is also saved thanks to the OmniBot cleaning rate of 200m2 (2,153 ft2) per hour. Dan Ruegg, EcoMarine CEO, believes it’s important for the marine industry to become more eco-conscious.
EcoMarine has demonstrated the effectiveness of the OmniBot in North Atlantic waters as well in the warmer sea conditions of South-East Asia. EcoMarine Technologies Inc. was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For more information, visit https://ecomarine.tech/ or email info@ecomarine.tech or call 123-456-7890.
Photo: Boating Industry Canada
EcoMarine Technologies Inc.
