Samsung Heavy Industries Moves to Secure Lead in Global Floating Data Center Market

Tripartite Business Cooperation Agreement Signed with Greece, UK, and Others

Samsung Heavy Industries is expanding global partnerships to secure an early lead in the Floating Data Center (FDC) market, which is attracting attention due to rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI). The company plans to accelerate its entry into the FDC market by establishing a comprehensive collaboration system covering all aspects of the business, including project identification, investment, market validation, and core technology development.

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on June 3 that it had signed a three-party business cooperation agreement for FDCs with Greek shipowner Capital and UK-based Lloyd’s Register (LR) at “Posidonia 2026,” the world’s largest shipping exhibition, held in Athens, Greece, on June 2 (local time).

Perspective view of the Floating Data Center (FDC) developed by Samsung Heavy Industries. Samsung Heavy Industries

According to the agreement, Samsung Heavy Industries will be responsible for FDC technology and construction, while Capital will handle project identification and investment. Lloyd’s Register will cooperate in the areas of FDC-related regulations and certification.

An FDC is a floating model that installs data centers not on land, but on rivers or at sea. As the commercialization of AI technology accelerates, demand for data centers has surged, leading to challenges in securing power, land, and cooling for servers. The FDC is being highlighted as an alternative that could address these issues.

Samsung Heavy Industries has also signed a separate memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Lloyd’s Advisory, a consulting subsidiary under Lloyd’s Register. The two companies plan to cooperate in verifying the economic feasibility of FDCs, including analysis of data center infrastructure and market viability in North America, and to establish a foundation for global FDC market entry.

The company is also pursuing collaborations to secure technology for AI server operation. On June 1, at the “Innovate APAC 2026” information and communications exhibition held in Taipei, Taiwan, Samsung Heavy Industries signed a joint development partnership (JDP) with Supermicro, a U.S.-based AI server specialist.

In maritime environments, factors such as vibration, tilt, air containing salt, and sudden humidity changes can impact the lifespan and stability of precision AI servers. Samsung Heavy Industries plans to develop technologies for maritime positioning control and for blocking salt and humidity, while Supermicro will verify the conditions needed to stably operate AI servers on rivers or at sea.

Choi Sung An, CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries, stated, “Offshore data centers represent an opportunity market open to the shipbuilding and shipping industries,” adding, “Through global partnerships, we will proactively enter the FDC market and establish a unique competitive position.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.