Dry Ice Cleaning in the Maritime Industry

Dry ice cleaning has a wide range of applications in the maritime industry. It offers a faster, more environmentally friendly, and gentler alternative to traditional cleaning methods, which often damage ship hulls (such as sandblasting).

Dry ice used as a cleaning medium has the unique ability to sublimate upon impact with the surface, without causing damage. This makes it an ideal eco-friendly solution for cleaning ship hulls—from small recreational boats to large commercial vessels.

The advantages of dry ice blasting in the maritime industry are significant—reduced working time, lower costs, and no damage to the hull from abrasive discs or sand.

In addition to hull cleaning, the technology is also used for the maintenance of engine rooms, removal of oil and grease deposits, and cleaning of cooling systems, heat exchangers, and pipelines.

Dry ice cleaning represents a universal solution for comprehensive vessel maintenance, from external structures to sensitive technical and electronic systems.

In the case of heavy mineral deposits or limescale, dry ice can be combined with an abrasive module to achieve even higher efficiency without the need for aggressive sandblasting.

A major advantage is that the process is completely dry, there is no water ingress into structures, the risk of corrosion is minimized, and no time-consuming drying is required. 

Suitable for:

✔ removal of old coatings, surface preparation before repainting
✔ restoration of historical / sensitive vessel components
✔ cleaning of teak decks without damaging the wood structure
✔ cleaning of switchboards, control panels, and PLC cabinets
✔ cleaning of winches, anchoring mechanisms, hydraulic units

The technology is also widely used for cleaning ship propellers and propulsion systems. Over time, propellers accumulate biological deposits, algae, shells, and mineral buildup, which reduce hydrodynamic efficiency and increase fuel consumption. Dry ice cleaning allows:

✔ removal of deposits without damaging the metal surface
✔ preservation of the precise geometry of the propeller

The maritime industry includes port terminals, shipyards, service centers, oil and fuel terminals, offshore platforms, and logistics hubs. All these operations face extreme conditions—humidity, salty environments, grease, and corrosion. The technology is also widely used on large ocean-going vessels, where hygiene and operational reliability are critical.

Dry ice cleaning is ideal for:

✔ removal of grease from pipelines and HVAC systems
✔ sanitation of galley exhaust systems on board

In port facilities, the technology is used for the maintenance of cranes, loading mechanisms, steel structures of piers, ramp systems, and conveyor systems.

In oil and fuel terminal environments, safety is a top priority. Dry ice allows cleaning of storage tanks, piping systems, valve assemblies, and pumping equipment without sparking and without generating secondary abrasive waste.

The technology also plays an important role on offshore platforms, where steel structures, generators, hydraulic systems, and electrical switchboards are constantly exposed to aggressive marine environments.

In logistics terminals, dry ice cleaning is used for the maintenance of containers, conveyor systems, and warehouse facilities. It is also suitable for removing biological contamination, mold, or residues from transported food products.