Samsung Heavy Industries said on April 24 that it had laid the groundwork for entering the global market with its self-developed Floating Data Center, or FDC, at Data Center World 2026, held for four days from on April 20 to 23 local time in Washington, D.C.

DCW 2026, which Samsung Heavy Industries attended for the first time this year, is a leading North American event where participants can gauge technology trends and investment direction in response to rapidly rising demand for data center infrastructure.

FDC is a floating model of a data center, for which demand is expected to surge with the commercialization of AI technology. Installed on rivers or at sea rather than on land, it is emerging as an alternative that can address challenges including securing sites, power supply, and cooling efficiency.

At the event, Samsung Heavy Industries obtained Approval in Principle, or AiP, for a 50-megawatt FDC from the American Bureau of Shipping, or ABS, and Lloyd’s Register, or LR.

The certified FDC is based on a shipyard’s standardized construction process that simultaneously carries out design, manufacturing, and equipment integration, enabling faster delivery than conventional land-based data centers. It can also be equipped with its own power generation system, minimizing dependence on land-based electricity.

In addition, during the event, Samsung Heavy Industries entered into technical cooperation with ABB to develop FDC power systems and signed a memorandum of understanding with Mousterian, a U.S. company specializing in data center business development, for FDC development in the United States.

Starting with this concept design approval from the classification societies, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to develop power systems and connect local partnerships for operation and permits in the United States, in order to push ahead in earnest with the commercialization of FDCs.

Meanwhile, Choi Won-young, chairman of the Samsung Heavy Industries Workers’ Council, also attended DCW 2026. Choi said, “The council will actively participate in the growth of new businesses such as FDC, and we hope management will make efforts so that the results can be returned to employees.”

Ahn Young-kyu, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President heading the Technology Development Division at Samsung Heavy Industries, said, “FDC is a new business model that expands shipbuilding technology into the digital infrastructure industry,” adding, “Combined with eco-friendly energy, it will present a new standard for the global data market and secure growth momentum.”

Source:Business Korea