Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has taken a significant step in advanced technology by signing an engineering agreement with Mousterian Corporation, a Texas-based infrastructure developer, to create floating data centers tailored for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. This collaboration represents a shift towards utilizing maritime solutions amid escalating demands for AI infrastructure.
The announcement was made on August 3, revealing plans to work together on the engineering and production of floating data center units, each designed to provide 50 MW of critical IT capacity. Initial deployments are anticipated in Texas and other markets across the United States.
Floating data centers are becoming increasingly attractive as developers face space and resource limitations for traditional land-based facilities. Proponents argue that these maritime units can effectively operate alongside existing power generation sources, utilize surrounding water for heat management, and employ non-evaporative cooling systems that do not rely on potable water. The design is expected to accommodate liquid-cooled AI systems while minimizing noise levels compared to conventional data centers.
SHI initially presented this concept at the Posidonia 2026 exhibition in June, advocating for floating solutions where land, power, and cooling are constrained. The pilot project is expected to demonstrate that simultaneous fabrication at shipyards can speed up the deployment of large-scale AI facilities.
Min Suh, CEO of Mousterian, expressed that the engineering contract represents a transition from planning to actionable execution, facilitating the scaled production of AI-capable facilities. Utilizing shipyard standards will allow the construction process to proceed alongside site preparations, potentially easing the deployment of substantial AI infrastructures.
SHI Vice Chairman and CEO Sung-an Choi emphasized that floating data centers would leverage the company’s extensive experience in offshore engineering and shipbuilding. Additional collaborators in this venture include Capital Clean Energy Carriers from Greece and Lloyd’s Register, with ambitions to commercialize the platform by mid-2028.
The prevailing interest in floating data centers is echoed by other firms exploring similar initiatives as AI infrastructure demands continue to grow. Notably, Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has partnered with a renewable energy company to establish the world’s first integrated floating data center platform, while a separate project in China focuses on a wind-powered underwater data center.
As this innovative approach gains traction, it remains to be seen whether floating data centers can achieve commercial viability on a larger scale. Nevertheless, the increasing number of engineering partnerships signals a serious commitment to overcoming the power and site limitations that traditional infrastructures face.
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