Samsung Advances Plans for Floating Data Centers as Project Gains Regulatory Approval
Samsung is pushing forward with plans to develop floating data centers on ships as demand for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence computing capacity continues to surge worldwide.
The initiative is being led by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), the shipbuilding arm of the Samsung Group, which is exploring ways to relocate large-scale data centers from land-based facilities to specially designed vessels operating at sea.
The company is partnering with Greece-based shipping firm Capital Clean Energy Carriers to develop purpose-built floating data center vessels, marking a significant step toward commercializing the concept.
Unlike other industry projects that focus on converting existing ships into data centers, Samsung’s approach involves designing and constructing dedicated vessels specifically engineered to host advanced computing infrastructure.
Samsung Heavy Industries Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer Young-kyu Ahn previously described floating data centers as a new business model that combines shipbuilding expertise with digital infrastructure development.
The company has already completed the design of its 50-megawatt floating data center model, which is capable of operating using onboard power generation systems or through connections to external power sources on land.
In a major milestone for the project, the concept has received approval from both the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Lloyd’s Register, two of the world’s leading maritime classification organizations.
Despite securing regulatory approval, Samsung and its partners are now focusing on real-world testing to determine how effectively the concept can operate under practical conditions.
The collaboration with Capital Clean Energy Carriers will help assess potential challenges associated with deploying high-performance computing systems at sea, including concerns around equipment reliability, vibration, humidity, saltwater exposure, and other environmental factors that could impact operations.
To further strengthen the project, Samsung has also partnered with server manufacturer Supermicro to develop specialized computing systems capable of functioning efficiently in floating data center environments.
The company has expanded its efforts through another agreement with Texas-based Mousterian Corporation, a firm specializing in floating and waterfront data center infrastructure.
According to Mousterian Chief Executive Officer Min Suh, the partnership demonstrates growing confidence in the commercial viability of floating data center technology and its potential role in supporting future digital infrastructure needs.
The development comes amid increasing global demand for AI-powered computing resources. Earlier this year, Samsung announced a partnership with OpenAI aimed at expanding data center capacity worldwide.
If Samsung’s floating data center model proves successful, future AI infrastructure could increasingly move beyond traditional land-based facilities, opening a new chapter in how digital services and computing power are delivered across the globe.
