Japan Plans Floating AI Data Centers on Decommissioned Cargo Ships by 2027

Executive Briefing

• Hitachi Systems and Mitsui OSK Lines are partnering to convert old cargo vessels into floating data centers
• Uses seawater cooling to reduce power consumption and meet strict environmental guidelines
• Could launch by 2027, significantly faster than traditional land-based centers taking 3-6 years to build
• Power sourcing remains unresolved, presenting a key challenge for the floating facility concept
• Separately, Tokyo firms explore data centers under railway overpasses using existing fiber optic networks