Shipsonic keeps vessels clean with vibration instead of copper
Dutch cleantech company Shipsonic builds ultrasonic systems that stop marine growth on ships' coolers and other underwater parts, without toxic copper.
Shipsonic is a Dutch cleantech company that makes ultrasonic anti-fouling systems for owners of commercial vessels that sail in salt water. Its systems stop mussels and other marine growth from settling on box coolers, sea chests and other underwater parts, as a toxin-free alternative to the widely used copper-ion systems. In autumn 2026 Shipsonic joined the PortXL accelerator and won two prizes linked to Dutch export support.
What does Shipsonic make?
The principle is simple, as the company explains it on its website: an object in sea water that vibrates in the ultrasonic range with enough sound pressure does not grow biofilm. Without biofilm the larvae of hard fouling organisms do not settle on it. Shipsonic develops, tests and installs these systems for commercial shipping, offshore, fishery and industry.
A system consists of transducers mounted on the part that needs protection, driven by a control unit. Shipsonic works with heavy transducers of 80, 100 or 120 watts, and each transducer has its own power supply, circuit board and software module that finds its own resonance frequency. If one transducer fails, the others keep working. Installation is dry, so no dry dock is needed.
Why replace copper?
Many ships protect their cooling systems with copper anodes, which release copper ions into the water. According to CEO Anne Marie van Swinderen, Shipsonic's solution costs, over its ten-year lifetime, half as much as the copper-based method and contains no toxic substances.
The company's products have been scientifically tested and researched. Jacob Capelle of Wageningen University & Research and Marco Dubbeldam of Stichting Zeeschelp studied how ultrasonic vibration affects the settlement of mussel larvae, and the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering published their pilot study, "Ultrasonic Treatment Suppresses Biofilm-Mediated Larval Settlement of Mussels" (Shipsonic R&D page). Shipsonic also names NIOZ, the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, among its research partners.
Who is behind Shipsonic?
Founder Chiel de Wit started the company almost ten years ago. Shipsonic is a brand of Delta-sistems B.V., which took over the brand in January 2017 (about Shipsonic). All systems are developed and built in the Netherlands and assembled at Dethon in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, a social development company. Anne Marie van Swinderen was involved for years before she joined full-time, first as Business Development Officer, about a year and a half ago. On 1 October 2026 she became the CEO, and founder Chiel de Wit is now fully focused on R&D, production and the technical guidance of the installation team.
What is new in 2026?
Shipsonic is part of the October 2026 cohort of PortXL, the maritime accelerator run with the Port of Rotterdam and other maritime partners. On its news page the team writes that the first part of the programme already led to five company matches for potential partnerships.
Shipsonic also won the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds prize, which gives the company a package of export support. At the Netherlands Export 26 event (NEX26) it won the audience award as the most promising company among ten candidates, in front of an audience that included exporters, export experts and trade missions. Earlier in October, the Province of Zeeland selected Shipsonic's proposal "Clean Ships without toxicants" for a subsidy, which will fund a feasibility study with partners including Kooiman Marine Group, Dethon, Stichting Zeeschelp and Wageningen University & Research in Yerseke.
For another Dutch company working on cleaner technology, read our story on Whspr's hybrid heat pump, or browse more new startups in the Netherlands.
Quick facts
- Company: Shipsonic, a brand of Delta-sistems B.V.
- What it does: ultrasonic anti-fouling systems for box coolers, seawater intake systems (sea chests, strainers, cross-over) and hulls
- For whom: owners of vessels in salt water, offshore, fishery and industry
- Based in: the Netherlands
- Founded: started by Chiel de Wit in December 2016; part of Delta-sistems B.V. since 2017
- Team: Chiel de Wit (Founder, Lead R&D), Anne Marie van Swinderen (CEO)
- Website: shipsonic.com
Learn more at shipsonic.com.
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