Samsung Heavy Industries announced a partnership to develop 50 MW floating AI data centers, tapping a Greek shipowner’s fleet and Supermicro’s hardware.
The design hinges on solid‑oxide fuel cells that run on liquefied natural gas, offering a compact power source for offshore racks. A prototype is slated for early 2027, while rival Japanese shipowner MOL is planning a 73 MW floating unit with Karpowership for a later 2027 rollout.
If the concept works, operators could deploy compute capacity in regions without reliable grid power, and the modular ships could be repositioned as demand shifts. It also sidesteps the need for on‑shore construction permits, shaving months off rollout times.
Skeptics note that LNG fuel cells add complexity and emissions, so the true cost advantage remains to be seen.