AUSTRALIA'S FIRST IN-WATER

HULL CLEANING SOLUTION

We're solving an old problem with a new approach

WHAT IS IT

The Hullwiper System

Hullwiper is the first diver free, brushless in-water cleaning system to come to Australian shores.

The system has a proven track record for safety and environmental standards overseas and as a result is currently the only system of its nature that has been approved in any port in Australia.

The service has been relocated to the Port of Brisbane with its main hub following customers wishes. ROV cleans can be undertaken alongside on Fisherman's Island as well as some other berths along Brisbane River.

Furthermore, the Inner as well as Outer Anchorage are an option pending weather. If necessary, the system, can be mobilized to Bundaberg, Gladstone or even still Port of Townsville.

Hull Cleaning in compliance with the Australian Law

Full transparency with all local, state and federal agencies in question
Fully compliant with the General Biosecurity Obligations
Actively involved in shaping Australian response to the issue of bio-fouling
Approved by several Ports for work alongside as well as anchorages and even approved to operate inside the Moreton Bay Marine Parks’ Anchorages

At present this system is the only one on record to be fully complaint with all Biosecurity Obligations as outline by Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF – Queensland) and Department of Agriculture (DoA – Federal) on the Australian East coast.

This includes working within the frame work of The In-water Hull-Cleaning Guidelines (2015 revision).

All our operations are cross checked with state bio-security enforcement as well as Australian Border Force (ABF) to ensure no unexpected fallout from any of our operations conducted on international vessels.

Since breaches in Biosecurity as well as customs regulations are not just on the operators but could also be held against vessel charterers/owners K ROV ensures any issues or question by any of the governing bodies are addressed adequately before any operation commences.

Environmentally friendly

The system reduces the carbon footprint of any vessel it cleans by reducing in-water drag. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of invasive species spreading to Australia’s shores since it recovers all the bio-matter it cleans off the hull to be disposed onshore in a safe manner. The system uses seawater as a cleaning agent to insure no negative impacts on the water column. Hence the hull is truly cleaned rather than being scrapped in a conventional sense, preventing damage to the coating itself and ensuring that no additional anti fouling substances are released into the water column as a result of the clean.

Safe

The system has a proven track record for safety and environmental standards overseas and as a result is currently the only system of its nature that has been approved in any port in Australia. The system is a diver-free solution to clean hulls in-water without any delays to the vessel itself. Taking the diving component out of the process maximises job safety. The systems is designed in a way that even in an emergency situation it will float to the surface so it can be recovered safely by the crew.

Cost Effective

The system has operated in various locations around the world for several years now. As a result the data of clients has proven that fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 20%. There is also clear savings due to water-jet cleaning which does not negatively impact the hull coating - as is prevalent with more traditional cleaning methods using brushes. The actual savings generated out of overall reduction in engine loading to maintain a required speed on a fouled hull is hard to quantify but without a doubt does factor into the equation.

HOW IT WORKS

The Hullwiper system is designed to clean off bio-fouling in the early stages maximizing fuel efficiency and preventing any damage to the hull coating

REQUEST A BROCHURE

After the ROV has been steered to the job site by the deck crew the pilot in dive control takes over. Using an intuitive steering system the ROV is than "driven" along the hull to ensure an even clean

The system uses pressure adjustable water blasters fixed on rotating disks. The cleaning medium used is sea water hence there is no introduction of chemicals by the system.

ABOUT K ROV

K ROV (Kofler ROV PTY LTD) was founded to bring new and innovative technology to Australia to create safe and sustainable jobs with significant positive environmental impact. We found the perfect partner in HullWiper.

As a whole, the system entails all the core values of K ROV by creating a safe, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solution to an issue that had been left unresolved in recent decades within Australia.

Since K ROV's inception we have been working closely with the Australian Government to help create and ensure we operate in accordance with legislation which includes:

Anti-Fouling and in-water cleaning Guidelines, April 2015 -
Australian Government, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment.

Biosecurity act 2014, revised 30. March 2017, Queensland Government

Biosecurity Regulation 2016, Queensland Government

Ingmar Kofler

DIRECTOR - ROV SUPERVISOR

Ingmar is a highly experienced diver that holds an ADAS Part 3, 3.2u
Inspection qualification.

He has well over 7 years of extensive hands on subsea experience, mostly working on the East Coast of Australia and offshore in Europe. In Europe he got exposed to ROV work and decided to retrain for this skill set. In 2007 Ingmar completed his degree in Marine Science and decided to top it of with a Masters degree in Environmental Studies in 2010.

Always with the ambition of protecting the worlds oceans. His dedication and commitment to preserving the environment while providing safe and inexpensive solutions is what drives him and the K ROV team.

OUR PARTNERS

GET IN TOUCH

ph. +61 433 802 015

578 Royal Esplanade

Manly QLD