Japanese giants Hitachi and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) have found an innovative solution for advancing AI infrastructure. By 2027, the companies plan to convert used car carrier ships into mobile data centers.

The main driver behind this move is the explosive demand for server capacity. Building land-based data centers is becoming increasingly difficult due to high land costs and a shortage of water for cooling systems.

Floating data centers address these challenges by using seawater for cooling. This approach is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than traditional methods. The deck area of one such vessel can reach up to 54,000 square meters, comparable to some of the largest onshore facilities.

Mobility will allow servers to be quickly deployed anywhere in the world depending on demand. If successful, the project could give rise to a new global industry — mobile cloud technologies based on maritime infrastructure.

ORIENT