Scalable, mobile, rapidly deployable
Meeting the energy needs of today and tomorrow. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Mol) and Kinetics have signed an mou to launch the world’s first integrated floating data centre platform, powered by mobile and renewable energy and offering scalable digital infrastructure from a retrofitted vessel.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Mol) has joined forces with Kinetics, an energy transition subsidiary of Karpowership, to create an integrated floating data centre platform – the first of its kind worldwide. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by the parties the project will combine maritime expertise and mobile energy innovation to deliver a scalable, energy-efficient, and mobile digital infrastructure solution.
The platform will be built on a repurposed vessel equipped with a direct water cooling system, using seawater or river water. Energy will be supplied from powerships operated by Karpowership, with the option to integrate land-based grids, solar farms, or offshore wind, depending on the project’s location and the various customers’ needs. Karpowership has a proven track record, with more than 10,000 MW of installed capacity in 19 countries.
Addressing market bottlenecks
The data centre will initially offer between 20 and 73 MW of power, with its modular design allowing further scalability. Network connectivity will be ensured via planned connections to terrestrial internet exchange points and submarine cables.
The vessel itself will measure 120 m, with a gross tonnage of 9,731 t. “This project represents a significant step toward our vision at Kinetics,” said Mehmet Katmer, CEO of Kinetics. “We’re addressing market bottlenecks to enable faster, cleaner and substantially more flexible digital capacity expansion.”
Mol managing executive officer Tomoaki Ichida emphasised that the partnership is in line with the group’s environmental and innovation goals, noting the ability to rapidly deliver infrastructure with reduced environmental impact.
Offshore data centres offer multiple advantages. They bypass land constraints and power bottlenecks, common in metropolitan areas and regions with grid limitations, and they also significantly reduce construction time.
Whilst traditional land-based centres may take several years to develop, a vessel conversion can be completed in a year. The mobility of the platform allows operators to relocate it based on demand, or even operate it en route.
Lower investment and operational costs
By using existing vessel hulls, the project minimises raw material extraction and benefits from onboard systems already in place. This translates to lower initial investment and operational costs, while enhancing energy efficiency through seawater cooling. The pilot platform is expected to be operational by 2027.