Samsung to Build Floating AI Data Centre by 2028
▼ Summary
– Samsung Heavy Industries plans to launch a purpose-built 50MW floating data center barge by 2028, designed for nearshore operation with some grid power.
– Floating data centers address land-based issues like community opposition, land shortages, and water needs for cooling by using the sea for cooling.
– The economic viability is unproven due to risks from saltwater corrosion, storms, and added costs for power and fiber connections.
– Samsung is leveraging spare shipbuilding capacity for this new market, while rivals like Mitsui OSK Lines and Hitachi are also developing floating data centers.
– Samsung has signed partnerships with Capital Clean Energy Carriers, Lloyd’s Register, and Supermicro, and has received approval in principle for the design.
As land-based data centres face mounting resistance from local communities and increasing pressure on water supplies, Samsung is turning to the sea. Samsung Heavy Industries has announced plans to launch its first floating data centre by 2028, according to a report by Seoul Economic Daily. The structure will be a custom-built barge stationed near the shoreline.
The design is uniquely tailored for this purpose. Instead of retrofitting an existing vessel, Samsung is constructing a new 50MW barge equipped with a dedicated server hall, onboard power generation, and liquefied natural gas fuel tanks. This initial version will be a “nearshore” model, positioned close to land and partially connected to the electrical grid. It represents a cautious first step before any operations move into deeper waters.
The core rationale behind this project addresses a growing crisis on land. Data centres require expansive real estate, affordable electricity, and vast amounts of water for cooling. Many communities are now unwilling to provide all three. By moving operations offshore, Samsung sidesteps land scarcity and lengthy permitting processes, while the sea offers a natural and abundant cooling resource.
However, the economic viability of such a venture remains unproven. Saltwater corrosion, severe weather, and the logistical challenge of running fibre-optic cables and power lines to a barge all introduce significant costs and risks. Samsung is wagering that these trade-offs will become worthwhile as the demand for AI computing outpaces what many local grids and communities can support.
This initiative also reflects the shifting priorities of the shipbuilding industry. Samsung’s shipyards are actively seeking new revenue streams. “Floating datacentres represent a major new opportunity for the shipbuilding and offshore industries,” said Sung-an Choi, chief executive of Samsung Heavy Industries. Building AI infrastructure on the sea allows the company to convert spare hull-building capacity into a high-tech product.
Competitors are pursuing similar concepts. A Japanese partnership between Mitsui OSK Lines and Hitachi is equipping existing ships with data-centre hardware, with a target launch in 2027. China has already taken the concept further by deploying a data centre beneath the ocean’s surface.
Samsung is not proceeding alone. At the Posidonia maritime trade fair, the company signed agreements with partners including Greece’s Capital Clean Energy Carriers and the classification society Lloyd’s Register. It also reached a deal with Supermicro to test AI servers at sea, as reported by The Register. Both the American Bureau of Shipping and Lloyd’s Register have granted approval in principle for the project.
Ultimately, floating data centres remain a speculative venture rather than a proven solution. But the fact that a major shipbuilder is developing concrete plans shows how far the industry is willing to go to escape the backlash on land. If communities refuse to host the power-hungry facilities that AI demands, the next logical location may be just off the coast.
(Source: The Next Web)