Floating Data Center Collaboration Agreement Signed Between Karpowership and Japan's MOL for Project Development
The maritime industry is set to make a significant leap with the collaboration between Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Karpowership's energy transition arm, Kinetics. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop the world's first integrated floating data center platform.
The innovative project aims to deliver high-performance digital infrastructure with a low environmental footprint, powered by Karpowership's flexible and uninterrupted energy sources. The data center will be housed on a repurposed vessel and is expected to be the first of its kind in the region, and indeed the world, with floating capabilities.
According to the key progress and timeline details, the pilot project will involve a 20 to 73 MW data center hosted on a 9,731-ton ship, with a modular configuration allowing for future expansion. The data center will use direct water cooling, utilising seawater or river water, and will connect to an Internet Exchange on land and through submarine cables.
Construction and related preparatory work, including acquiring permits, licenses, and commercial contracts, are expected to start in 2026, with full commercial operations targeted for 2027. However, the exact location of the floating data center has not been disclosed publicly.
Tomohiko Ichida, Executive Board Member at MOL, stated that this project is a major step towards building digital infrastructure faster and greener. He also mentioned that by using MOL's maritime expertise, they are supporting the future of data while being mindful of the environment.
Mehmet Katmer, CEO of Kinetics, echoed these sentiments, stating that this project aligns with their vision to provide innovative, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure solutions. Karpowership, with over 20 years of experience and having delivered more than 10,000 MW of installed power across 19 countries, brings a wealth of expertise to the table.
This project represents a unique collaboration between the two companies, marking the first time they have worked together. The floating data center is currently in the pre-construction phase, with work slated to begin in 2026 and commercial operations planned for 2027. By combining mobile power generation with floating data infrastructure, this project promises to enable faster, cleaner, and more flexible digital capacity expansion.
Erdogan, the president of Turkiye, expressed his interest in the progressive collaboration between MOL and Kinetics, mentioning the potential environmental benefits of the world's first integrated floating data center powered by Karpowership's energy sources. The data center, slated to be the first of its kind in the region and possibly the world, could significantly contribute to Syria's data-and-cloud-computing sector, given its innovative, efficient, and sustainable nature as described by Mehmet Katmer, CEO of Kinetics.
