As data centres run into unhappy neighbours and water limits on land, Samsung wants to float them offshore. Samsung Heavy Industries plans to launch its first floating data centre by 2028, Seoul Economic Daily reported. It would be a purpose-built barge parked near the coast.
The design is specific. Rather than convert an old ship, Samsung is building a new 50MW barge with a server hall, onboard power generation and liquefied natural gas fuel tanks. The first version is “nearshore”, sitting close to land and drawing some power from the grid, a hedged first step before anything ventures far out to sea.
Why put a data centre on water
The pitch answers a growing problem on land. Data centres need vast plots, cheap power and huge volumes of water for cooling, and communities increasingly refuse to give up all three. Floating offshore sidesteps land shortages and slow planning fights, while the sea offers ready cooling.
The economics stay unproven. Saltwater corrodes, storms threaten, and running fibre and power to a barge adds cost and risk. Samsung is betting the trade is worth it as AI demand outruns what many grids and towns will bear.
