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Party Barge
Fark linked up this article detailing the announcement of one helluva boat:
The ship, dubbed Project Genesis, will be 220,000 gross registered tons when it is delivered to the world's second-largest cruise operator in fall 2009 by Oslo, Norway-based shipbuilder Aker Yards.
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Project Genesis will carry 5,400 passengers based on two people per cabin, Kulovaara said. But as most cruise cabins can accommodate more than two people using cots or other beds, that number rises to a maximum capacity of 6,400.
For perspective, a Nimitz class aircraft carrier's displacement is listed as 97,000 tons fully loaded. With, like, heavy things like bombs and airplanes and stuff.
Well, not yet a "city at sea," but at least a small town at sea.
I wonder if, between these babies and the artificial gills, we might actually start colonizing the oceans soon. The city-ships could maintain power generators, desalinate fresh water, and grow crops for the deep colonies, and the deeps could drill for oil and mine metals on the unexplored sea floor.
It would be like mining towns of the last century, but more expensive and potentially more profitable.
Posted by: Tatterdemalian on February 7, 2006 08:46 AM