Northern maritime robotics start-up ScrubMarine has raised over $1m in pre-seed funding to develop an autonomous system for cleaning and inspecting ship hulls, addressing the costly problem of marine growth.
Founded by 21-year-old robotics engineer Rohith Devanathan, ScrubMarine is based in Cumbria and is developing technology to reduce fuel consumption, cut emissions, and improve safety for ship operators worldwide. Biofouling—the accumulation of molluscs, crustaceans, and slime on hulls—can increase fuel use by up to 40 per cent, costing the global shipping industry more than $100bn annually and significantly raising emissions.
The funding round was led by PXN Ventures, supported by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, and backed by SFC Capital. Strategic investors include Graham Westgarth, former president of the UK Chamber of Shipping, and Colin Greene, a former Apple regional chief executive.
Funds will be used to complete ScrubMarine’s prototype, expand the engineering team in Whitehaven and Edinburgh, and move towards pilot deployments with UK and international ship operators.
Rohith Devanathan said: “With fuel costs rising and emissions regulations tightening, hull maintenance has become a critical issue for operators worldwide. Being based in Whitehaven gives us access to strong engineering capability while building technology that can be deployed globally. This investment allows us to accelerate development and move towards the first pilots with major operators. Our goal is to make underwater maintenance safer, more efficient and fully data-driven.”
ScrubMarine’s system includes a compact, cavitation-powered robot, the Turtle, which removes fouling without damaging protective coatings while capturing inspection data. A second autonomous platform, the Whale, allows deployment and recovery without divers or port infrastructure, reducing operational risk and enabling more frequent maintenance.
Jess Jackson, praeseed lead at PXN Ventures, said: “ScrubMarine is a strong example of the kind of innovative, globally scalable business emerging from the North. With Northern Powerhouse backing, the team is well placed to build advanced robotics capability in Cumbria while serving international markets.”
Ed Stevenson, principal at SFC Capital, added: “ScrubMarine is building a smart, scalable solution to a costly problem that affects almost every vessel in operation. Rohith and the ScrubMarine team combine strong engineering talent with a clear understanding of the operational realities of global shipping. We’re happy to be backing them at this early stage of the journey.”
Sue Barnard, senior investment manager at British Business Bank, said: “It’s great to support such an ambitious Northern business as it prepares for commercial pilots. ScrubMarine is applying innovative technology to tackle a real-world global challenge, and this NPIF II funding will support the team to develop their product, create skilled jobs and take the next steps in their growth journey.”
