- Floating data centers move closer as Hitachi backs ship conversion plan
- Japan explores offshore computing to circumvent land shortage and infrastructure limits
- Seawater cooling offers efficiency gains while introducing new technical complications
A floating data center project in Japan has gained significant support from Hitachi, bringing an embedded computing concept closer to possible deployment.
The company and its subsidiary Hitachi Systems signed a memorandum with shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines to develop and operate the facility.
The agreement involves the conversion of a second-hand vessel into a functional data center, with operations tentatively expected from 2027.
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Why Japan is turning to water for server farms
Hitachi will bring its experience in operating land-based facilities in Japan and deploying containerized data systems to overseas markets.
Demand for data center capacity continues to increase as artificial intelligence systems require more computing power and supporting infrastructure.
This demand creates pressure to identify locations capable of supporting cooling, energy supply and long-term operational stability.
Japan faces land constraints, particularly around Tokyo and Osaka, where most existing data campuses remain concentrated, and the floating concept offers an alternative, reducing construction times, meaning the ship conversion could potentially be completed in around a year.
Conventional data centers often require several years to be designed, approved and built under current regulatory conditions.
Previous plans referred to the conversion of a 120 meter, 9,731 tonne vessel, although the focus has instead been on the reuse of a car carrier, as these vessels offer large internal cargo areas that can accommodate server installations and associated infrastructure.
A capacity of approximately 54,000 square meters would put the facility on the scale of large terrestrial data centers.
Cooling would rely on seawater or river water, reducing reliance on increasingly limited freshwater sources, although this approach introduces different technical requirements, including corrosion control, filtration and heat exchange efficiency.
Mitsui OSK Lines is also examining how to reuse existing onboard systems during the conversion, including air conditioning, water intake and power generation infrastructure already integrated into the vessel.
Reusing these systems can reduce upfront costs, although the magnitude of the savings remains unclear without detailed disclosure.
Hitachi and Hitachi Systems will oversee the design, installation and operational management of the IT infrastructure, and will also engage customers and define technical requirements for deploying workloads on the platform.
Mitsui OSK Lines will manage ship conversion, coordinate with port authorities and manage maritime logistics and maintenance.
This arrangement reflects a divide between digital infrastructure expertise and maritime operational control.
Via The register
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