ABS and Samsung Heavy Industries Secure AIP for 200 MW Floating Data Center Design

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have reached two key milestones in the development of floating data center technology, signaling a potential shift in how the industry addresses the growing demand for data infrastructure. The first milestone is a design approval agreement under which ABS will review SHI's 50-megawatt (MW) floating data center against applicable class rules and International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. This agreement builds on an approval in principle (AIP) for the 50 MW design that was granted earlier this year. The second milestone is the AIP for SHI's 200 MW floating data center, a significant expansion in scale.

The move comes as the data center industry faces mounting pressure from the limits of land-based development, particularly in regions where space, power, and cooling resources are constrained. Floating facilities, deployed offshore, offer an alternative that could bypass some of these bottlenecks. However, they also introduce a new set of engineering and regulatory complexities, from maritime safety standards to operational resilience in marine environments. "Interest in floating data centers is growing as demand for data infrastructure outpaces what land-based development can deliver. Moving these facilities offshore introduces real complexity, and with it, real opportunity. ABS is proud to support SHI as they advance this technology," said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

SHI's floating data center designs are built around a standardized shipbuilding process, which could shorten construction timelines compared to traditional data center builds. The 200 MW AIP represents a fourfold increase in capacity over the earlier concept, specifically targeting the scale requirements of hyperscale data center operators. This comes as AI-driven demand for computing infrastructure continues to surge, pushing operators to seek larger, faster-deployable capacity solutions. "Our collaboration with ABS allows us to pioneer next-generation maritime technology. The 50 MW design agreement and the 200 MW FDC approval in principle (AIP) demonstrate SHI's differentiated technological competitiveness in the FDC market," said Kyung-Hee Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Future Business Division at Samsung Heavy Industries.

The approval of the larger design is a strong signal that the industry is moving beyond conceptual discussions of offshore data centers toward practical, scalable implementations. For hyperscale operators, the ability to deploy 200 MW of computing capacity in a single floating platform could reshape site selection strategies, particularly for coastal markets where land and power are scarce. The involvement of a classification society like ABS, which sets standards for vessel safety and compliance, is also critical to ensuring that these facilities can be insured, financed, and operated reliably. As the technology matures, the focus will likely shift to proving operational performance and supply chain readiness, but the AIPs mark a clear step forward in bringing floating data centers from concept to commercial reality.