According to a news report, IDS (International Data Security), a startup company in the San Francisco Bay area, is planning to build as many as 50 data centers on decommissioned container ships, up to 22 of those in the U.S. First space will be at Pier 50 in San Francisco.
These ships will live in port in their designated cities, and will rely on standard connectivity for power and network. Using cargo ships allows for flexibility and the ability to expand based on the availability of ships and port space, rather than real estate.
Datacenters in a shipping container were reported here before when we wrote about Sun Microsystem’s Project Blackbox. The idea is to put all of the computer servers and support equipment into a standard 40 foot shipping container. The IDA project, takes the idea to the next logical step and puts the containers on board a ship, avoiding high real estate prices in congested cities. Biodiesel generators will be used for power and heat from the equipment will be used to help stabilize temperature on the ship.
Link: Data Center Knowledge via SlashDot