MOL and Hitachi to Develop Floating Data Centres from Converted Ships　商船三井と日立、中古船改造の「浮体式データセンター」

Proposal for new infrastructure to meet AI demand with no land requirement, shorter construction periods and use of seawater cooling

AI需要に対応、土地不要・短工期・水冷活用で新インフラ提案

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Hitachi and Hitachi Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at the development, operation and commercialisation of Floating Data Centres (FDCs) created by converting secondhand ships.

The full article covers the following points (approximately 3,000 characters):

→ The idea of using oceangoing ships for purposes other than transport — what is similar to the conversion of LNG carriers into FSRUs, and what is decisively different

→ Why shipping companies now need to become involved in data centres as part of AI infrastructure

→ Should secondhand ships be scrapped or have their lives extended — and what is the “third exit” that could change that binary choice

→ What new asset value is created by the combination of shipping and IT, as indicated by the partnership between MOL and Hitachi

→ Why this concept could become a practical solution despite the risks surrounding power supply, telecommunications and regulation

Photo of MOL

(Continue reading the full article, available in both English and Japanese. The Japanese article is published following the English version.)

商船三井と日立、中古船改造の「浮体式データセンター」

AI需要に対応、土地不要・短工期・水冷活用で新インフラ提案

　商船三井と日立製作所、日立システムズの3社は中古船を改造した浮体式データセンター（Floating Data Center、FDC）の開発・運用・商用化に向けた基本合意書（MOU）を締結した。

■記事本文では以下の内容を読むことができます（記事全文約3000文字）

→ 外航船を「輸送以外」に使う発想――LNG船のFSRU転用と何が同じで、何が決定的に違うのか

→ なぜ今、海運会社が「データセンター」というAIインフラに関与する必要があるのか

→ 中古船はスクラップか延命か――その二択を変える「第三の出口」とは何か

→ 商船三井と日立の連携が示す、「海運×IT」が生む新たな資産価値の中身

→ 電力・通信・規制リスクを抱えながらも、この構想が現実解になり得る理由

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）