- Floating data centers move closer as Hitachi backs ship conversion plan
- Japan is exploring offshore computing to circumvent land shortages and infrastructure limits
- Seawater cooling offers efficiency gains while introducing new technical complications
A floating data center project in Japan has received significant backing from Hitachi, bringing a ship-based computing concept closer to possible implementation.
The company and its subsidiary Hitachi Systems signed a memorandum with shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines to develop and operate the facility.
The agreement covers the conversion of a used vessel into a functioning data center, with operations tentatively expected from 2027 onwards.
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Why Japan looks to the water for server farms
Hitachi will contribute its experience from operating land-based facilities in Japan and implementing containerized data systems in 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 that can support cooling, power 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 timelines, meaning ship conversion could potentially be completed in around a year.
Conventional data centers often require several years to design, approve and construct under current regulatory conditions.
Earlier plans referred to converting a 120-metre, 9,731-ton vessel, although attention has shifted to reusing a car carrier instead, as such vessels provide large internal cargo areas that can accommodate server installations and associated infrastructure.
A capacity of about 54,000 square meters would put the facility close to the scale of large land-based data centers.
Cooling would rely on seawater or river water, reducing reliance on increasingly limited freshwater sources, although this approach introduces various technical requirements, particularly around corrosion control, filtration and thermal exchange efficiency.
Mitsui OSK Lines is also investigating how it can reuse existing onboard systems during conversion, including air conditioning, water intake and power generation infrastructure already integrated into the vessel.
Reusing these systems can reduce upfront costs, although the extent of savings remains unclear without detailed information.
Hitachi and Hitachi Systems will oversee IT infrastructure design, installation and operations management, 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 handle maritime logistics and maintenance.
The arrangement reflects a division between digital infrastructure expertise and maritime operational control.
Via The register
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