Page 39: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2021)

WORKBOAT THE DATA BARGE

Pro’s & Con’s: Water-based v. Land-based Data Centers

Project Nautilus is the ? rst commercial waterborne data center, and its barge-based data centers can help restore economic commissioned in December 2020 and located in the Port opportunity. In the developing world, the core of these country’s of Stockton, Calif. According to Jim Connaughton, CEO of economic resiliency is in their ports, with industrial facilities at

Nautilus Data Technologies, barge-based data centers offer a the shoreline. number of quanti? able business and environmental advantages

The Cons versus land-based centers. While he discussed the drawbacks, too, he is quick to point out that “our business model was to • Mindset: This is new geography for the client, Connaughton eliminate the cons.” said, with the data center sitting in a port or industrial area instead of the more expensive commercial real estate side of town.

• Water: While waterfront proximity for cooling is a striking ad-

The Pro’s • Sustainable: Natural water cooling versus chilled air systems vantage, it could also be a concern as land-based facilities don’t help reduce electric, water and chemical consumption. A near have a circulating water loop inside the data hall. The solution: ‘zero-impact’ facility. tried and tested maritime technique and technology found in • Mobile & Flexible: Data centers can ? oat in and out with everything from tankers to aircraft carriers.“As an added layer minimal port/shore infrastructure needs. of assurance for our customers, we can show them how this • Prefabrication: Everything can be built and tested in a con- closed loop operates under about half a bar of negative pres- trolled environment, the shipyard. sure. That means if something happened like a hose popped or • Old Ports, New Markets: In the developed world, as Pana- a valve was open, air gets sucked in instead of water coming max ports get bigger, the mid-size ports have capacity. NDT out. The entire system is redundant.” www.marinelink.com 39

MR #11 (34-49).indd 39 11/4/2021 10:39:32 AM