Geico's floating station cleans everything from taxis to superyachts (VIDEO)
Anahid, a robotic system for underwater maintenance without hauling, made its debut at the Genoa Boat Show. It is intended for marinas, shipyards and professional operators.
Venice – The 2026 Venice Boat Show was the stage chosen by Geico to present the Anahid prototype, a floating platform developed for underwater hull cleaning and sterilization without the need to dry-dock vessels. For the Lombardy-based company, internationally renowned for its automated systems for the automotive industry, this marks the official entry into the nautical and offshore sector with a technology that addresses one of the most pressing needs of shipowners, marinas, and maintenance operators. Founded over 60 years ago and headquartered in Cinisello Balsamo (Milan), Geico specializes in the design and construction of turnkey automated systems for automotive body painting. Its clients include some of the world's leading automotive manufacturers. In 2023, the company achieved an order backlog of €500 million in the automotive business.
The Anahid project represents the transfer of expertise developed in industrial automation to the maritime sector. The platform operates directly in the water and uses a combination of robotics, artificial intelligence, and monitoring systems to operate on the underwater surfaces of hulls. Its operating principle involves the use of UV-C LED light to sterilize surfaces. During operations, a network of cameras constantly monitors the hull's condition, while analysis algorithms process the collected data in real time, providing information on the level of cleanliness and condition of the hull. The goal is to combat biofouling, the accumulation of marine organisms on underwater surfaces, a phenomenon that negatively impacts performance, increases fuel consumption, and leads to higher maintenance costs. For marinas and tourist ports, such a solution could allow scheduled interventions directly at the dock, reducing the need for hauling and limiting vessel downtime.
Anahid was born as part of the Clarum Seas Project (Save Energy, Anchor Sustainability), developed by Geico in conjunction with Greensailor, an Italian company specializing in eco-friendly, solvent-, copper-, and biocide-free foul-release coatings. The project combines prevention and monitoring systems with new technologies for protecting underwater surfaces. The experimental phase, launched about a year ago, was conducted with the logistical support of the shipyard of the main transport company in the Venice Lagoon. The prototype's display at the Boat Show represents the first public engagement with the nautical market.
"With the unveiling of the prototype of the first floating underwater hull cleaning station," says Daryush Arabnia, CEO and President of Geico, "we have taken a decisive step in our industrial diversification journey. We are leveraging over 60 years of experience in designing complex automated systems, gained in the automotive industry, and applying it today to the strategic marine sector, where sustainability, operational efficiency, and marine environmental protection are key challenges. Sustainable investment and long-term growth are the driving forces behind our current development of new business areas, particularly in the marine sector. Indeed, we have always preferred the challenge of strategic opportunities consistent with our historical guidelines to one-off initiatives."
For the marina sector, the proposal fits within a growing focus on reducing the environmental impact of maintenance activities and seeking value-added services for shipowners. The company's goal is to create facilities capable of accommodating hulls up to 40 meters in length. An app will also identify marinas where the service is available, allowing customers to undergo treatment if needed and receive an alert when, based on the water conditions and hull type, the system determines it is appropriate to illuminate the hull to prevent fouling.
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The Sailing Super Yacht Forum returns to Genoa on November 27th.
