- SHI attended DCW 2026 in the U.S. and obtained global AiP for 50MW FDC  

- SHI established MOUs with businesses including ABB to kick-start FDC commercialization

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) announced on the 24th that it has set the foundation for the global market entry of its self-developed Floating Data Center(FDC) during the DCW 2026 held in Washington D.C., from the 20th to the 23rd(local time).

DCW 2026, which SHI is attending for the first time this year, is a flagship event in North America that shows the technology and investment landscape to respond to the surging demands for data center infrastructure.

FDC is an offshore floating model of data center, which is expected to see an exponential surge in demand following the commercialization of AI technologies. By moving data centers offshore, FDC is rising as an alternative to tackle challenges such as site acquisition, electricity supply, and cooling efficiency. 

During this event, SHI received AiPs for 50MW FDC from the American classification society ABS and the British classification society LR. 

SHI''s AiP-approved FDC is based on a standardized shipbuilding process of shipyards that conduct design, manufacturing, and equipment integration at the same time. It allows shorter lead times compared to the conventional onshore data centers, and can minimize reliance on onshore electricity by installing self-generation systems.

Also, SHI has established a MOU for FDC development within the U.S. with `ABS`, a leading company in electrification and automation technology, and with `Mousterian Corporation`, a U.S.-based developer of floating and water-adjacent data center infrastructure during the event, respectively.  

Building on its AiP approvals from classification societies, SHI is planning to drive FDC commercialization by connecting with local partners for electricity system development and approval, authorization, and operation within the U.S.

Meanwhile, Won-young Choi, the chair of the SHI Workers` Council, attended DCW 2026, which showed that the labor and the management are working in tandem. "The Council will actively support new business growth such as FDCs, and we hope the management will do their best to share the benefits with the workers", said Chairman Choi.

"FDC is a new business model that expands the shipbuilding technology into the digital infrastructure industry", stated Young-kyu Ahn, the head of the Technology Development Division at SHI (CTO, Vice President). "It will set new standards in the global data market by converging with eco-friendly energy, and secure a new growth engine", he added.