TÜV SÜD America joins the Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) to strengthen global testing, certification, and safety expertise for maritime battery systems
IMG_0160: Team photo (Showing 350 kN electro-dynamic vibration table) Left – Mr Jonathan Drew (Senior Director – Transportation), Right – Mr Kevin Morrison (Technical Sales Manager)
The Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) is pleased to welcome TÜV SÜD America Inc. (TÜV SÜD), a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), as the newest member of our global community of maritime battery enablers. With more than 160 years of experience in safety, quality, and sustainability, TÜV SÜD brings critical expertise to support the safe and scalable adoption of battery technologies in the maritime sector.
As the maritime industry accelerates its transition toward electrification and low-emission operations, independent testing, certification, and compliance assurance are becoming increasingly important. TÜV SÜD’s membership strengthens MBF’s capabilities in advancing safe, standardised, and globally harmonised battery deployment across maritime applications.
Comprehensive Testing of Lithium-ion and Advanced Battery Systems
TÜV SÜD is a globally recognised Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) organisation with a strong track record across multiple industries, including automotive, energy, infrastructure, and maritime.
Within the maritime sector, TÜV SÜD provides a broad range of services covering marine equipment certification, navigation and communication systems, cybersecurity, and alternative propulsion technologies, including battery systems. Its work supports shipowners, manufacturers, and system integrators in ensuring compliance with international standards and regulatory requirements.
A key strength of TÜV SÜD lies in its global network of battery testing laboratories, located in Auburn Hills (USA), Newmarket (Canada), Garching (Germany), Guangdong (China), and Changzhou (China). These facilities enable comprehensive testing of lithium-ion and advanced battery systems across performance, safety, environmental, and compliance parameters. TÜV SÜD is also designated as a Notified Body (NoBo) under the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, providing independent conformity assessment, technical documentation review, and certification services to support market access within the European Union.
Expanding into Maritime Battery Systems & Supporting Battery Projects
TÜV SÜD has been working with battery technologies for more than two decades, initially supporting the consumer electronics and automotive sectors before expanding into stationary energy storage and industrial applications.
As electrification gains momentum in shipping, TÜV SÜD has increasingly focused on maritime batteries, supporting the industry’s transition to hybrid and fully electric propulsion systems. Today, the company works closely with marine battery manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, and shipyards, providing testing, certification, and advisory services aligned with international standards and classification requirements.
TÜV SÜD is actively involved in a wide range of projects related to maritime battery systems. These include the testing of lithium-ion battery systems for hybrid and fully electric vessels against internationally recognised standards such as IEC 62619 and IEC 62620. The organisation supports marine OEMs and system integrators with battery compliance and certification, ensuring that systems meet stringent safety and performance requirements. In parallel, TÜV SÜD is contributing to the development and application of advanced testing methodologies for large-scale energy storage systems (ESS), including maritime use cases.
A key differentiator is TÜV SÜD’s ability to leverage cross-sector expertise, applying knowledge from automotive and stationary energy storage systems to maritime applications. This approach enables more robust and harmonised testing practices, supported by its global laboratory network.
IMG_154: Team Photo (Showing the Large Indoor fire testing bunker) Left – Mr Jonathan Drew (Senior Director – Transportation), Mr Kevin Morrison (Technical Sales Manager)
Independent, Third-party Perspective & Deep Technical Expertise
TÜV SÜD joined the Maritime Battery Forum to strengthen its engagement with the rapidly evolving maritime battery ecosystem and to collaborate with stakeholders across the value chain. The Forum provides a unique platform to connect with shipowners, OEMs, system integrators, and regulators, enabling TÜV SÜD to stay aligned with industry developments and contribute to the evolution of best practices.
Through its membership, TÜV SÜD aims to ensure that its testing and certification services continue to meet emerging industry needs while also sharing cross-industry insights from automotive and energy storage sectors to accelerate maritime innovation.
TÜV SÜD brings significant value to the MBF community through its independent, third-party perspective and deep technical expertise in battery testing and certification. Its contribution includes extensive knowledge of international standards, including IEC 62619 and IEC 62620, as well as experience in developing and validating safety frameworks for battery systems. Combined with its global laboratory infrastructure, TÜV SÜD enables consistent, scalable, and high-quality testing services across regions.
By supporting the development of robust testing methodologies and contributing to standardisation efforts, TÜV SÜD plays a key role in ensuring the safe, reliable, and compliant adoption of maritime battery technologies.
“TÜV SÜD is proud to join the Maritime Battery Forum and collaborate with industry leaders to advance the safe and reliable adoption of battery technologies in the maritime sector. By combining our global testing capabilities with cross-industry expertise, we aim to support the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable marine operations.”
About the Maritime Battery Forum
The Maritime Battery Forum was founded with the aim of promoting new and efficient energy storage technologies in the maritime industry. With over 90 members across 3 continents, the MBF works to disseminate information, facilitate discussion, and accelerate the journey towards a zero-emission maritime future.
Contact :
Ayomide Miracle Salifu
Community & Communications Manager
Email: ayomidesalifu@maritimebatteryforum.com
Website: www.maritimebatteryforum.com
