Geico revolutionizes boating with Anahid, the first AI platform that cleans hulls underwater.
The debut at the Venice Boat Show marks the entry of the historic automotive leader into the maritime sector under the banner of sustainability and energy efficiency.
Venice – Ship maintenance is officially entering the era of artificial intelligence and robotics. It is called Anahid, and it is the first robotic underwater platform capable of cleaning and sterilising hulls without the need to lift vessels out of the water. A pioneering technology that introduces a new paradigm of intelligent and sustainable maintenance, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient navigation. The prototype of the system is being exhibited these days at the Venice Boat Show in the Mare Laguna area, positioned beneath the famous hands by artist Quinn.
This debut marks Geico’s official entry into the nautical and offshore sectors. The Cinisello Balsamo-based company, a global leader for over sixty years in the design and implementation of turnkey automated systems for automotive body painting, has decided to apply its technological know-how to the maritime world. Prevention, control and cleaning are the key words driving this major investment. As early as 2025, the company had presented in Venice the concept of a system capable of combating biofouling — the biological buildup that slows vessels — without the need to dry-dock them. Today, that concept has become a concrete and operational solution.
The operation of Anahid is a concentration of innovation: the hull is exposed to UV-C LED sterilising light, while a network of intelligent cameras monitors submerged surfaces in real time. Thanks to AI-based analysis algorithms, the system provides accurate feedback on the level of cleanliness and the condition of the hull. This is a technology that drastically reduces environmental impact, improves vessel energy efficiency, and contributes to the protection of marine ecosystems.
The innovation is part of the Clarum SEAS Project (Save Energy, Anchor Sustainability), a project developed by Geico in partnership with Greensailor, an Italian company specialised in eco-friendly antifouling “foul-release” coatings, completely free of solvents, copper and biocides. This innovative formula, diluted exclusively with drinking water, is designed to eliminate pollutants and make application simple and harmless. The first experimental phase of the project has just been completed after about one year of testing, supported by the logistics of the shipyard belonging to the main transport company in the Venice Lagoon.
“With the presentation of the prototype of the first floating station for underwater hull cleaning, Geico takes a decisive step in its industrial diversification path,” said Daryush Arabnia, CEO and Chairman of Geico. “We leverage over sixty years of experience in the design of complex automated systems, gained in the automotive sector, and apply it today to a strategic field such as nautical, where sustainability, operational efficiency and environmental protection are central challenges. We have always preferred the challenge of strategic opportunities aligned with our company’s history over sporadic initiatives.”
The management’s choice is not accidental. Italy leads the global ranking in superyacht production with 60% of global orders and over 90% of production destined for export, alongside the strong potential of nautical tourism. Meanwhile, the global specialty coatings market, valued at over 200 billion USD in 2023, is expected to reach nearly 290 billion USD by 2032. The convergence between the ecological transition needs of the nautical sector and the growing demand for automation has created the ideal conditions for the entry of an industrial giant like Geico.
Original article: Sea Reporter — Geico presents Anahid at the Venice Boat Show. Content reproduced with permission.
