ABS and Samsung Heavy Industries advance floating data center concepts
ABS and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have recently announced significant milestones in advancing the development of floating data centers. These milestones are part of a series of innovative agreements that have followed the opening of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center in Washington, D.C.
Design Approval Agreements for Floating Data Centers
The first milestone involves a design approval agreement between ABS and SHI. ABS will be reviewing SHI’s 50-megawatt (MW) floating data center against relevant class rules and IMO regulations. This agreement builds upon an approval in principle (AIP) that was granted earlier this year. The second milestone is the AIP granted for SHI’s 200 MW floating data center.
Rising Interest in Floating Data Centers
Floating data centers have been gaining attention due to the constraints faced by conventional land-based facilities. Issues such as limited available sites, power interconnection challenges, and cooling capacity limitations have led to a growing interest in moving computing infrastructure onto purpose-built floating platforms. This shift offers potential benefits such as shortened construction timelines, reduced strain on local grids, and efficient cooling using abundant seawater. These advantages are particularly crucial as the demand for data infrastructure continues to rise, driven by artificial intelligence and hyperscale computing.
Pioneering Next-Generation Maritime Technology
Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the increasing interest in floating data centers as the demand for data infrastructure surpasses what traditional land-based development can provide. He emphasized the complexity and opportunity that comes with moving these facilities offshore. The collaboration between ABS and SHI aims to pioneer next-generation maritime technology, with SHI’s designs incorporating a standardized shipbuilding process to potentially expedite construction timelines. The 200 MW AIP represents a significant advancement, catering to the scale requirements of hyperscale data center operators in response to the growing demand for computing infrastructure.
Kyung-Hee Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Future Business Division at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), expressed pride in the collaboration with ABS, highlighting SHI’s technological competitiveness in the floating data center market. The 50 MW design agreement and the 200 MW AIP demonstrate SHI’s commitment to driving innovation in this sector.
The Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center, a bilateral government initiative jointly established by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources, and the US Department of Commerce, opened on July 23, 2026, in Washington, D.C. This partnership aims to foster cooperation and technological advancements in the shipbuilding industry between the two countries.
