MAELSTROM: underwater automation of cleaning, dredging, maintenance and underwater inspection operations

Project objectives

The main impact of the project is environmental, since it allows plastics and waste to be removed from the seabed. These cleanings are not currently done due to complexity, time, cost and risk for divers. The developed technology allows waste collection that is efficient in time and size, as well as selective to minimize the impact caused on the seabed ecosystem. In the first test campaign in Venice in September 2022, more than 300Kg of marine litter and marine plastics have been removed from the bottom.

The technology is currently on TRL 7/8. Its commercialization will require an industrialization phase for which interested investors or industrial agents are sought. The versatility of the technology also allows for other more industrial/commercial operations, such as underwater inspection, dredging of channels and ports and other underwater applications.

The automation of underwater tasks allows substantial economic savings compared to professional divers, in addition to guaranteeing greater availability of the service and reducing the health risks associated with diving.