Seasteading News: Recent Updates and Major Floating City Projects in 2024

As of the latest Seasteading news, The world’s first floating city is set to be constructed off the waters of French Polynesia after the government signed an agreement with the Seasteading Institute, a US company. The Floating Island Project will be built in sheltered waters and serve as a prototype for future floating cities.

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Seasteading News: New Ocean Project Launched in the Pacific

Bankrolled by PayPal founder Peter Thiel, the world’s first floating nation will appear in the Pacific Ocean off the island of Tahiti in 2024. The first city will be a network of 16 platforms made from reinforced concrete supporting three-storey buildings such as apartments, offices and hotels. 

It will initially house 300 residents and feature aquaculture farms, healthcare and sustainable energy. The project is budgeted to cost $180 million. It is part of the Floating Island Project being developed by the Seasteading Institute in partnership with the French Polynesian government.

Seasteading is the concept of creating permanent dwellings at sea called seasteads, that are independent of established governments. Proposed structures include modified cruise ships, refitted oil platforms and custom-built floating islands.

The Seasteading Institute, founded in 2008, has been the main proponent of seasteading in years. They signed a memorandum of understanding with French Polynesia in 2017 to create the first semi-autonomous seazone for a prototype floating city. 

Political changes led to the project being postponed indefinitely in 2018. Despite some setbacks, the seasteading movement continues to make progress with the first single-family seastead launched near Phuket, Thailand in 2019. The concept of floating cities as a solution to rising sea levels was also included in a 2019 UN-Habitat presentation.

The Seasteading Institute (TSI) was Founded in 2008, TSI aims to establish autonomous, mobile communities on seaborne platforms operating in international waters. It promotes experimentation with new governance systems outside national laws.

Blueseed was Originally conceived as a seasteading venture, Blueseed plans to create a startup incubator on a vessel in international waters off California. This initiative targets foreign entrepreneurs facing visa challenges, allowing them to live and work close to Silicon Valley without needing a US work visa.

ArkPad: This naval engineering company is developing ultra-stable floating houses and solar-powered liveaboards. Their first project is a floating house in Boracay, Philippines with plans for full-sized floating resorts and blockchain applications to support funding for seasteading technologies.

Ocean Builders: Based in Panama, this company focuses on constructing individual floating homes known as SeaPods. They plan to create a community through organic growth rather than starting with large cities. Their approach includes utilizing 3D printing technology for building homes and offering amenities like floating restaurants.

Ventive Floathouse: This startup is dedicated to creating permanent ocean communities using modular structures designed for safety and affordability. Their goal is to develop floating communities that can eventually evolve into independent cities.

Seastead.ai Ltd: This company is designing mobile single-family seasteads that allow owners to choose their legal jurisdiction. They plan to incorporate solar energy and advanced route planning software for stability while navigating ocean currents.

Seasteading News: First Floating City Nears Completion

The floating city will be located in French Polynesia and plans to consist of a dozen islands featuring residential areas, restaurants, offices, schools and hotels.

The design includes sustainable energy solutions like solar panels and wind turbines, as well as aquaculture systems for food production. The islands are designed to be self-sufficient, recycling water from the ocean and generating their own energy.

As of now, the project is reportedly close to completion with initial phases of construction having begun. The Seasteading Institute has signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Polynesian government allowing them to test their designs in local waters.

The Seasteading Institute envisions this floating city as a habitat and also as an experimental ground for new forms of governance and social organization.

They plan to incorporate advanced technologies in wave energy generation, desalination and marine education into the city’s infrastructure. The first residents are expected to be luxury buyers, but there are hopes to expand into affordable housing in the future.

South Korea is set to build OCEANIX Busan, with completion targeted for 2025. This project is backed by the United Nations and plans to address climate change challenges through innovative flood-proof infrastructure.

The city will consist of several interconnected platforms covering over 75 hectares and is designed to house approximately 12,000 residents initially with potential expansion for up to 100,000 people.

OCEANIX Busan will be self-sufficient, generating its own energy through solar panels and utilizing advanced systems for water treatment and food production.

Seasteading News: Government Approvals Accelerate Global Projects

The Panamanian government has expressed interest in seasteading initiatives, facilitating connections between seasteading advocates and government officials. This engagement has allowed projects like Ocean Builders to progress without bureaucratic hindrance.

Various projects are currently underway including Arkpad in the Philippines, which focuses on developing stable floating houses and resorts and Floating Hydrogen Ports in Lebanon aimed at creating sustainable energy platforms.

Seasteading projects often exist in a legal gray area. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) delineates maritime zones where national laws apply.

Seasteaders must navigate existing laws that govern territorial waters, exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and high seas, which can limit their autonomy and operational capabilities.

Ocean Builders is building a cluster of SeaPods, sustainable floating homes, off the coast of Panama after receiving support from the Panamanian government. This will be the world’s first residential seasteading community when completed in late 2024.

The Seasteading Institute is in talks with French Polynesia to build a floating city 12 miles off its coast, with plans to begin construction in 2017 if approved by the French Polynesian president. This project is backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

Honduras has created a program called ZEDE (Zones for Employment and Economic Development) that allows private developers to establish semi-autonomous zones with their own legal systems and regulations, under the country’s sovereignty. Projects are underway to leverage this model.

Early seasteading plans aimed for complete independence, but the estimated $225 million startup cost and $8 million annual operating budget made partnerships with host countries necessary.

Projects are being built under the host country’s sovereignty, following their constitution and international treaties, while having autonomy to create their own commercial laws.

The goal is to attract foreign investment by offering a more favorable regulatory environment compared to the host country’s overall system. Jobs must be at least 90% for locals.

Seasteading News: Investments on Floating Cities

A growing number of tech billionaires and entrepreneurs are investing in the development of floating cities also known as seasteads. The idea is to build permanent settlements at sea that operate independently from existing countries with the goal of experimenting with new forms of government and society.

The organization behind this movement is the Seasteading Institute founded in 2008 with initial funding from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. The institute plans to build the first floating city-state by 2020 with the goal of tackling issues like overpopulation, rising sea levels and the need for innovative governance models.

Proponents of seasteading argue that it could provide an open space for experimenting with new societies and force existing governments to compete for citizens by improving their policies.

Some Silicon Valley elites are drawn to the idea of living in tax-free, lightly regulated floating communities especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An attempt by the Seasteading Institute to build a floating city off the coast of French Polynesia stalled due to lack of government support. Floating cities are also extremely expensive to build with initial cost estimates ranging from $167 million for a small community to billions for a larger settlement.

Oceanix Busan: World’s First Prototype Floating City

In 2022, the UN and partners unveiled plans for the world’s first prototype floating city in Busan, South Korea. Construction is set to begin in 2023 on the three interconnected platforms totaling 15.5 acres, which will provide homes for a community of 12,000 people.

Oxagon: Largest Floating Structure in the World

Oxagon is a floating industrial city that’s part of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Project being developed by Parsons. At 4.3 miles wide, Oxagon will be the largest floating structure in the world when completed.

The floating city will be a hub for innovation with logistics solutions powered 100% by renewable energy and include sustainable food production and water desalination systems.

Maldives Floating City

The Maldives government has partnered with Dutch Docklands to develop the Maldives Floating City, which will contain 5,000 housing units within a 15-minute boat ride of the capital Male. More than 80% of the Maldives’ land area is less than one meter above sea level.

Floating City by Luca Curci Architects

Luca Curci Architects and designer Tim Fu have proposed a 25-acre floating city concept that could house 50,000 people. The city would be powered by renewable energy, contain water desalination facilities and feature vertical gardens and green spaces.

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Seasteading News: Countries Exploring Ocean Colonies in 2024

Cities like Boston, Miami and San Francisco are investigating ocean colonization as a means to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change. This includes the development of floating accommodations and artificial islands designed to sustain human life while minimizing ecological disruption.

In 2017, French Polynesia signed an agreement with the Seasteading Institute to explore floating town concepts. This initiative aims to create sustainable habitats in the ocean for populations threatened by rising sea levels. This project envisions a carbon-negative city within the Equatorial Pacific Ocean designed to accommodate up to 100,000 residents.

India has applied for rights to explore the Indian Ocean seabed beyond its jurisdiction including the cobalt-rich Afanasy Nikitin Seamount. This is fueled by concerns over Chinese vessels conducting reconnaissance there.

The AN Seamount is a structural feature in the Central Indian Basin that is rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper deposits. To proceed with extraction, interested countries must apply for an exploration license to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) which operates under UNCLOS.

India has previously secured exploration rights to two other large basins in the Central Indian Ocean and has undertaken surveys showing its commitment to marine exploration and resource assessment.

Rights to the AN Seamount region have already been claimed by Sri Lanka under a separate set of laws.

State-owned and government-sponsored companies from India, France, Russia, Germany, China, Singapore and the UK had sought permission for minerals prospecting in the high seas.

Four licenses have been granted for the Pacific Ocean, two for the Indian Ocean Ridge and one for Rio Grande Rise in the southern Atlantic. Russia has been granted exploration licenses in various oceanic regions.

The US is engaged in ocean exploration through NOAA Ocean Exploration, which is mapping and studying previously unknown areas of the ocean. They are focusing on deepwater habitats around Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, as well as conducting mapping expeditions in the Pacific.

Additional countries such as Germany, Singapore and the United Kingdom are also exploring opportunities for seabed resource extraction and have sought licenses for various oceanic explorations.

Seasteading News: Environmental Impact of Seasteading

Seasteads can serve as artificial reefs increasing fish biomass by up to 10 times compared to natural sanctuaries. The solid foundations of seasteads provide a home for fish, seaweed, algae, mussels, scallops, clams and oysters to thrive. As seasteads grow, they can create new coral ecosystems and increase the amount of life in the oceans, which are relatively lifeless deserts.

Seasteaders see pollution as resources that can be harvested and reused. For example, waste plastic can be incorporated into the construction of affordable seastead platforms, removing it from the ocean. Geopolymer concrete used in some seasteads requires fly ash in its composition, which is a waste product from burning coal. Using fly ash in concrete removes carbon from the environment.

Seasteads can support circular food chains using aquaculture without the need for pesticides, soil depletion or factory farms. Fish, seaweed, algae, mussels, scallops, clams and oysters can be farmed sustainably using ocean nutrients and sunlight. Floating aquaculture companies like OnHand Agrarian are developing affordable seastead platforms to produce food sustainably.

Seasteads can harness renewable energy from ocean currents and waves to power themselves reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Floating cities can be designed to be self-sufficient in terms of energy, food and freshwater.

The environmental impact of seasteading depends on how it is implemented. If seasteads rely on drilling for oil and gas, it could have a negative impact. However, using renewable energy and fostering artificial reefs can make seasteading a net positive for the environment.

There are technical challenges in designing structures that can withstand the harsh marine environment create sustainable food and freshwater sources, manage waste and supply energy. Overcoming these challenges is key to realizing the environmental benefits of seasteading.

Floating cities are more resistant to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. They can adapt to rising water levels by floating higher, a stable habitat in flood-prone areas.

Integrating marine ecosystems into floating cities can enhance biodiversity and restore damaged environments. Structures like artificial reefs support marine life and boost local biodiversity.

Floating cities can be designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating renewable energy, efficient waste management and eco-friendly materials.

By utilizing water surfaces instead of land, floating cities avoid the need for sand mining and land reclamation, which can degrade ecosystems. This provides a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional urban expansion.

Studies have shown that floating structures can lead to slightly lower dissolved oxygen levels and higher temperatures in the water beneath them. The magnitude of these differences varies based on the specific water body and does not appear to critically impact water quality.

The creation of large floating structures can lead to shading of the water and seafloor below. This can impact photosynthetic organisms like seagrass and corals that rely on sunlight. Careful design choices like incorporating skylights can help tackle shading effects.

Floating cities anchored to the seafloor may cause localized impacts through scour from mooring blocks and chains. This can disturb soft sediment communities. Minimizing seafloor anchoring in favor of coastal locations can reduce these effects.

Cities are associated with light pollution at night, which can affect fish behavior and reproduction. Following guidelines for managing ecological light pollution should be considered when planning lighting for floating cities.

Seasteading News: Startups Related to Ocean Living

Brim Explorer

Founded in 2018 in Oslo, Norway, Brim Explorer offers eco-friendly tour cruises using hybrid-electric ships that run silently on electric power for up to 10 hours. This reduces pollution and disturbance to marine life compared to traditional diesel-powered vessels.

Eco Wave Power

Founded in 2011 in Tel Aviv, Eco Wave Power has developed wave energy conversion systems that generate renewable electricity from ocean waves. Their floating platforms harness wave motion to drive hydraulic pumps and produce clean power.

Gigablue

Founded in 2022 in Caesarea, Gigablue uses advanced AI and scientific methods to facilitate large-scale carbon capture and removal from the ocean. By imitating Earth’s natural carbon sequestration processes, they aim to help the ocean absorb excess CO2 from the atmosphere.

Open Ocean Robotics

Founded in 2019, Open Ocean Robotics develops uncrewed surface vehicles equipped with sensors, cameras and communication devices. Powered by the sun, their boats can travel nonstop for months without producing greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution or oil spills. The data they collect helps protect at-risk species, optimize ship routes, combat illegal fishing and study climate change.

Saathi

Founded in 2015 in Ahmedabad, India, Saathi makes biodegradable hygiene and sanitary products using banana fibers. This helps reduce plastic waste that often ends up in oceans or landfills.

N-Ark’s Dogen City

Japanese startup N-Ark is proposing Dogen City, a massive floating metropolis designed to accommodate 40,000 residents. This city will integrate various functions such as food production, medical facilities and even space launch sites.

Waterstudio.NL in the Maldives

Dutch architect Koen Olthuis leads Waterstudio.NL, which is developing a floating city in the Maldives. This project will consist of around 5,000 modular buildings designed to rise with sea levels. It aims to house 20,000 people and is set for completion by 2027.

India’s first floating elementary school was inaugurated on February 13, 2017, on Loktak Lake in Manipur. Located about 50 kilometers from Imphal in the Champu Khangpok village, this school aims to serve children who have dropped out of traditional schooling particularly those rendered homeless due to the evacuation of floating islands known as phumdis.

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