Toxin-Free Hull Cleaners

Bergen Harbor recently hosted Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, to showcase a groundbreaking, eco-friendly hull cleaning technology developed by ECOsubsea.

The AIDAnova cruise ship, making its first seasonal stop in Bergen, was among the latest to benefit from this innovative cleaning method. Notably, Bergen Harbor has banned conventional hull cleaning methods that pollute the water. Instead, only systems that capture and safely dispose of waste are permitted.

ECOsubsea’s advanced cleaning system operates like a massive underwater vacuum, efficiently removing biofouling while containing the waste within a closed-loop filtration system. The collected sludge is then transported ashore, processed, and repurposed into biogas, contributing to a circular economy.

Looking ahead, Bergen Harbor and Oslo Harbor KF are working together to establish a national policy for sustainable hull cleaning, with the aim of implementing these standards across all Norwegian ports.

Image Credit: Bergen Harbor