Classification society ABS has issued a product design assessment (PDA) to US battery technology company Fleetzero for its Leviathan battery energy storage system — the first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) marine battery system manufactured in the United States to receive classification society approval.

The PDA follows ABS’ technical review of the Leviathan system for marine applications and is intended to support its use in future projects requiring class-verified battery technology. The system is built on LFP chemistry, operates at up to 1,000 VDC, supports a depth of discharge ranging from 2% to 98%, and carries an IP67 rating. Its modular, containerised design is said to allow the system to be specified, deployed and replaced across a range of vessel types and applications.

Gareth Burton, ABS Senior Vice President of Global Engineering, stated: “As the industry works through the practical challenges of electrification, class-verified battery technology plays an important role in building confidence among owners and integrators. The PDA for the Leviathan system reflects the rigorous technical work required to bring a new marine battery solution to market safely.”

According to Fleetzero, the first commercial deployment of the Leviathan system is expected to take place later this year. The initial project will involve 10 MWh of Leviathan battery capacity as part of a vessel’s broader conversion to hybrid-electric propulsion.

Steven Henderson, CEO and co-founder of Fleetzero, commented: “This approval is the result of years of disciplined engineering and close collaboration with ABS. The maritime industry needs proven, class-approved energy storage that is built on a safe, scalable chemistry. The Leviathan delivers exactly that, and we are putting it to work immediately.”