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MOL, Hitachi plan floating data centres using converted ships
A Japanese consortium is considering converting secondhand ships into floating data centres
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Hitachi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly study the feasibility and commercial viability of converting unwanted ships into floating data centres in areas where there is limited land space.
The Japanese corporations will conduct demand verifications, review basic specifications and consider operational procedures, with plans to start a commercial project in 2027.
They will focus on deploying a floating data centre in Japan, but will also consider markets in Malaysia and the US.
These studies come as the demand for data centres is accelerating due to the rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the growing need for energy and water resources to cool the electronics for the processing hubs.
Using a secondhand ship eliminates the need to secure large tracts of land, minimises construction and enables the centre to be mobile. It will have a low environmental impact and support the reuse of existing hulls.
Under the MoU, MOL will plan and promote vessel conversions, co-ordinate with port authorities and other stakeholders, define maritime operational requirements such as mooring and maintenance, and examine financing structures.
Hitachi will undertake technical studies investigating the installation and operation of containerised data centres; defining IT infrastructure requirements such as networking and security; and clarifying customer requirements.
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