Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hitachi and Hitachi Systems to convert second-hand vessels into floating data centres, targeting deployment from 2027 in Japan, Malaysia, and the United States.
The collaboration aims to meet growing demand for high-performance data centres driven by generative AI, while addressing constraints of conventional land-based facilities. MOL highlighted that floating data centres allow direct use of seawater or river water for cooling, reducing power consumption, operational costs, and reliance on potable water supplies.
The concept also shortens delivery timelines: retrofitting an existing vessel can take roughly one year, compared with up to four additional years for new land-based centres. Reusing ship systems such as power generation, air-conditioning, and water intake further reduces environmental impact and investment requirements. A converted car carrier could provide around 54,000 sq m of floor space, comparable to Japan’s largest onshore data centres.
Under the agreement, MOL will oversee vessel conversion planning, port coordination, and financing, while Hitachi and Hitachi Systems will manage data centre design, IT infrastructure, and client engagement. The project builds on MOL’s previous 2025 MOU with Kinetics for a next-generation floating data centre platform on a retrofitted 120 m car carrier.
The floating data centre initiative represents a growing trend in hybrid maritime-technology solutions, combining shipping expertise with digital infrastructure to meet evolving global data demands.
