Date: July 7, 2025
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), a leading Japanese shipping company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kinetics, the energy transition arm of Turkish conglomerate Karadeniz Holding, to develop the world’s first floating data centre platform. This pioneering project aims to address the increasing demand for data processing and storage by repurposing a 120-meter-long vessel into a mobile data centre.
The floating data centre will be powered primarily by liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied by Kinetics’ powerships, with the potential to integrate offshore wind and onshore solar energy sources, depending on the project’s location and client requirements. The facility is designed to offer between 20 and 73 MW of capacity, cooled by seawater or river water, and connected to the internet via submarine cables or land-based networks.
This innovative solution aims to overcome the challenges associated with traditional land-based data centres, such as power constraints, land scarcity, and permitting delays. By utilizing existing maritime infrastructure, the floating data centre can be rapidly deployed and relocated as needed, providing a flexible and scalable alternative to conventional data centre models.
The first floating data centre project is targeted for deployment in 2027, with design plans, memorandums of understanding with operators, and licensing expected to be completed by 2026. This initiative represents a significant step forward in leveraging maritime assets to meet the growing demands of the digital age while minimizing environmental impact.
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