TOKYO, Mar 30, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi; President & CEO: Toshiaki Tokunaga; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), and Hitachi Systems, Ltd. (Hitachi Systems; President & CEO : Takehiko Watanabe; Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) today announced the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for the development, operation, and commercialization of a “Floating Data Center (FDC) converted from a second-hand vessel.” (**) Based on this MOU, the companies will conduct demand verification, review basic specifications and operational procedures, and carry out feasibility studies for commercialization of an FDC, with a view to commencing operations in 2027 or later. The project will focus primarily on Japan, where the Hitachi Group already has operational experience in land-based data centers, as well as Malaysia and the United States, where there are proven track records in providing services related to land-based data centers.

CG rendering of an FDC converted from a used ship

In recent years, demand for data centers has continued to grow alongside the rapid proliferation of generative AI, creating a need for diverse range of data center solutions that take into account factors such as location, the availability of water resources for power generation and cooling, surrounding infrastructure, and disaster risks.

Leveraging their respective experience, insights, and expertise, the three companies will assess the feasibility of commercializing FDC converted from a used vessel—a solution that eliminates the need to secure large tracts of land, enables short construction periods and mobility, and reduces environmental impact and costs through the reuse of existing hulls.

Roles of Each Company

- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Building on its expertise in studying and evaluating maritime operations—including vessel conversion plans, coordination with port authorities, and mooring and maintenance—MOL will be responsible for planning and promoting vessel conversions; leading discussions with port authorities and other stakeholders; defining maritime operational requirements such as mooring and maintenance; and examining financing structures.

- Hitachi, Ltd./Hitachi Systems, Ltd.:

Led by the Strategic SIB Business Unit, which drives new growth opportunities, Hitachi and Hitachi Systems will leverage their experience in owning and operating land-based data centers in Japan, installing containerized data centers, and providing land-based data center services in Malaysia and the United States. They will be responsible for technical studies on data center design, installation, and operation; defining IT infrastructure requirements such as networking and security; utilizing local expertise; and collaborating on customer requirement clarification and customer acquisition.

Furthermore, by combining advanced AI with deep domain knowledge, the Hitachi Group is providing “HMAX by Hitachi” (HMAX), a suite of next-generation solutions designed to address the most complex challenges facing in social infrastructure. Hitachi will aim to expand HMAX to further advance and streamline data center operations in the future.

(**)[Advantages of FDCs Compared to Land-based Data Centers]

- No need to secure large tracts of land or incur land acquisition costs

Securing large plots of land for data centers in the suburbs of major cities is becoming increasingly difficult. In some cities, infrastructure concerns—such as electricity, cooling water, environmental regulations, and resident consent—has not kept pace, leading to proposals to halt the construction of new data centers. FDCs, which utilize ports and rivers, offer a new solution that can be deployed even in such challenging areas.

- Shorter construction periods

Renovation work for FDCs takes approximately one year, potentially shortening the development period by up to three years compared with conventional land-based data center development.

- Introduction of water-cooling systems utilizing seawater and river water

Data centers consume large amounts of electricity and generate significant heat, requiring robust cooling systems. As conventional air-cooling systems cannot adequately cool high-performance AI servers, the market is shifting toward water-cooled systems. However, because water-cooling requires large volumes of water, some regions in the United States have experienced conflicts with residents concerned about potential shortages of potable water. As floating structures, FDCs can efficiently utilize seawater or river water for cooling, reducing both the power consumption required for server cooling and overall operational costs.

- Relocatable

Because FDCs are floating structures, they are easy to move in response to shifts in demand.

[Benefits of Converting Existing Ships into FDCs]

- Reduced environmental impact arising from the extraction and processing of raw materials through the reuse of existing ship hulls

- Reduced initial investment

In addition to lowering construction costs, the use of existing onboard systems—such as air-conditioning, water intake, and power generation—is expected to reduce initial investment requirements.

- Extensive space availability

For example, a car carrier with a floor area of approximately 54,000 m² would rival one of Japan’s largest onshore data centers in terms of total floor area.

Trademark Notice

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About Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

MOL operates a fleet of more than 900 vessels, including LNG carriers, car carriers, oil tankers, and bulk carriers. Centered on its core shipping business, the company is engaged in a wide range of social infrastructure businesses—such as offshore business, wind power generation, logistics, and real property—as well as B2C businesses such as cruises and ferry services. MOL aims to be a strong and resilient corporate group that grows on a global scale by addressing the evolving needs of society, including environmental conservation, through the advancement of its technologies and services, and by delivering new value to all stakeholders. Visit us at https://www.mol.co.jp/en/.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.

About Hitachi Systems, Ltd.

Hitachi Systems will collaborate with Hitachi Group companies and business partners to develop the Lumada business as One Hitachi, with a focus on managed services, to achieve DX for our customers on a global scale. Our human capital featuring business knowledge and know-how acquired through solving customers' problems across a variety of industries will utilize generative AI more than ever before to further accumulate and utilize knowledge. This will enable us to propose on-site digitalization solutions and create a cycle of collaborative value creation. Visit us at https://www.hitachisystems.com/eng/index.html.

WAKASHIO MARU

TOKYO, Mar 13, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, today completed the handover of WAKASHIO MARU, a training ship for National Institute of Technology, Toyama College (NIT, Toyama College). The handover followed a christening and launch ceremony for the ship in October 2025 at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and the completion of interior work and sea trials.

This is the fifth generation training ship for NIT, Toyama College, and the first replacement ship for the school in 31 years since 1995. It is the first ship Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has built for the school. The ship will be utilized for navigation practice, operations, and ocean-related research, along with various other educational and community contribution activities to develop marine sector human resources, contribute to local communities, and disseminate maritime-related messages. The ship is also equipped to provide a range of disaster support functions, including transporting relief supplies and providing housing facilities in the event of a natural disaster.

Going forward, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to support its customers and the advancement of society by leveraging its synergy with MHI Group to build ships that embody even more advanced development and design for the maritime field, and contribute to the training of next-generation maritime officers, and oceanographic surveys.

Main Specifications of the WAKASHIO MARU

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com

HONG KONG, March 6, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) – 5 March 2026, the world’s first methanol dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off vessel, CM HONG KONG, successfully completed its first green methanol bunkering operation in Hong Kong. This also marks China's first green methanol bunkering operation conducted at anchor.

This milestone signifies a major breakthrough in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s deepened collaboration with enterprises, including China Merchants Group (CMG), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), and China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC). The achievement responds proactively to the “Dual Carbon” goals and advances implementation of Hong Kong’s Action Blueprint for Green Marine Fuel Bunkering, marking a solid step forward in Hong Kong’s development into an international green marine fuel bunkering centre.

The bunkering ceremony, themed “RIDING THE TIDE, GREENING THE FUTURE”, was jointly hosted by China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), Sinopec (Hong Kong), and CIMC Enric at the Legislative Council Complex. Officiating guests included the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hon Mable CHAN, JP; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Diane WONG Shuk-han, JP; the Director of Marine, WONG Sai-fat, together with Members of the Legislative Council, the Hon Gary CHAN Hak-kan, SBS, JP; the Hon Judy CHAN Kapui, MH, JP; the Hon Erik YIM Kong, JP; the Hon Aaron BOK Kwok-ming; Dr the Hon Webster NG Kam-wah, JP; Capt the Hon Lothair LAM Ming-fung; and the Hon Tommy CHUNG Ki-fung. Representatives from CMG, Sinopec, and CIMC, along with more than 100 distinguished guests from the shipping, energy, equipment manufacturing, and financial sectors, witnessed the significant moment.

During the ceremony, officiating guests jointly launched the bunkering operation. A live screen broadcast the “first injection” of green methanol into CM HONG KONG, while simultaneously displaying the internationally certified green attribute certificate.

The vessel completed bunkering via a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer, receiving approximately 500 tonnes of green methanol. According to calculations, this volume is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 85% compared with conventional marine fuels.

The green methanol was produced and supplied by CIMC Enric and has obtained ISCC EU certification. The bunkering operation was carried out through Sinopec (Hong Kong)’s professional bunkering service system, and the fuel was ultimately applied by CMES as the shipowner. The operation fully demonstrated a closed-loop green methanol value chain encompassing “production–storage–shipping–bunkering–application”.

Pursuant to the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Jointly Building the Hong Kong Green Methanol Bunkering Centre signed in November 2025, the three parties leveraged their respective core strengths in ocean shipping, oil and gas and green fuel storage-transport-sales, and energy equipment manufacturing. Technical validation, solution optimisation, and emergency preparedness were completed in advance to ensure smooth implementation.

To ensure safe and efficient operations, relevant HKSAR Government departments worked closely with participating enterprises. The Transport and Logistics Bureau, Marine Department, Customs and Excise Department, and Immigration Department provided end-to-end support in policy guidance, streamlined approvals, and safety oversight in accordance with the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering.

This inaugural bunkering is not merely a technical demonstration, but a pivotal practice in establishing Hong Kong’s green marine fuel bunkering ecosystem. It verifies both the technical feasibility and commercial operability of green methanol bunkering in Hong Kong, and showcases a “Hong Kong’s Approach” characterised by government-enterprise collaboration, port-shipping synergy, and full industry-chain coordination. This initiative helps attract more green vessels to call at Hong Kong and encourages Hong Kong-registered vessels to increase their use of green marine fuels, striving to achieve the 7% target by 2030.

The three organizations that collaborated to complete this bunkering operation stated that they would continue to further deepen cooperation, promote the industrialisation, scaling, and regularisation of green methanol supply in Hong Kong, and accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem covering production, storage, shipping, bunkering, trading, and financial services. These efforts will support Hong Kong in building a leading green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the national “Dual Carbon” goals, Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality, and the global low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.

Ammonia Fuel Supply System (AFSS) module

TOKYO, Feb 24, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has shipped an ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) and an ammonia gas abatement system (AGAS) for Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG). Both systems are designed for the first ammonia-fueled marine engine model 7UEC50LSJA-HPSCR manufactured by J-ENG and represent the first units produced by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding. Commissioning work for the systems will begin in due course.

The AFSS supplies ammonia fuel to the engine in a stable and safe manner, while the AGAS safely processes surplus ammonia generated during fuel switching from ammonia to conventional fuel oil. Both systems support remote operation and automatic control through an integrated control system, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

The early market introduction of these systems will enable onboard verification combining J-ENG's ammonia fueled marine engine model 7UEC50LSJA-HPSCR, a first mover in next-generation advanced fueled engines, with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's AFSS and AGAS. This combination is expected to further accelerate decarbonization efforts across the maritime industry.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue strengthening its business structure to meet the growing demand for ammonia-fueled vessels.

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com