Houston-based maritime classification society ABS (the American Bureau of Shipping) has issued a product design assessment (PDA) to Fleetzero for the company’s Leviathan lithium iron phosphate (LFP) marine battery system, making Leviathan the first LFP marine battery system manufactured in the United States to receive classification approval.
The positive assessment clears the way for the Leviathan system’s use in future projects that would require a class-verified battery technology. The Leviathan system operates at up to 1,000 VDC (volts direct current), with a depth of discharge between 2% and 98%. The system carries an IP67 rating, meaning it’s dust resistant and is waterproof up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
With its modular, containerized design, Fleetzero’s Leviathan system is able to be deployed and replaced across a range of vessel types and applications.
“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,” said Gareth Burton, senior vice president of global engineering for ABS. “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 will hit the water later this year. That project will use 10 megawatt-hours of Leviathan battery capacity as part of a vessel’s conversion to hybrid-electric propulsion.
“This approval is the result of years of disciplined engineering and close collaboration with ABS,” said Steven Henderson, CEO and co-founder of Fleetzero. “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.”
In June, Fleetzero, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, and Glosten announced a collaboration to accelerate the development and deployment of integrated autonomous vessel solutions for a variety of applications. The partnership will combine Fleetzero’s Leviathan system, propulsion technology, and autonomy stack with Thoma-Sea’s shipbuilding capacity, and Glosten’s vessel design experience.
The trio of companies is developing an autonomous diesel-electric vessel designed for use in contested waters, persistent operations, and supply delivery with minimal radar signature.
