International Data Security has started work on retrofitting a ship to act as a floating data center, with plans to dock it in San Francisco.

Google filed a patent around the concept of a ship-based data center that relies on wave power earlier this month, but it appears that IDS is actually outdoing what Google has so far only proposed. The start-up plans to build 50 such data centers, 22 of which will be located in the U.S., according to a report by Om Malik.

The concept of placing a data center on a ship grew out of efforts to make data centers more energy efficient and cut operating costs. Because the data center ship would be in the water, it would require less power for cooling. Another plus: reduced real-estate costs, although data center ships do not simply float around — to actually operate, they must be moored and provided with fiber connected to land-based internet connections.

IDS' long-term plans are unknown, although it seems unlikely that the company will be pairing a data center ship and a wind turbine in the near future. Ken Choi is the CEO of IDS, while Richard Noughton, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is president.

Photo by Flickr user Caddysnaps