Possibly, but such a structure would be permanently attached to the seabed, and within the EEZ, would be under the jurisdiction of the U.S - see UNCLOS Article 60.

That's a core aspect of the project, and we've done extensive research (short of a basin study with a ship model, which is too expensive for the funding stage we're at).

First, NOAA buoys around the location have been recording wave and current data since 1980. BitcoinNordic founder Lasse Birk Olesen (fimp here on the forum) analyzed the wave data while he interned for us, and constructed this chart of durations of large wave events:



If you total the numbers, it amounts to a significant wave height under 3 meters, 93% of the time.

Second, a smaller offshore accommodation vessel, the Dan Swift (149m x 24m) was shown (mirror in Spanish) to have a Motion Illness Ratio within the acceptable European standards for ferries, in ocean conditions near Brazil worse (3.5m significant wave height, double wind speed, 15m/s) than those we are likely to encounter.

Third, there is still roll, and there is still that 7% of the time with taller waves. There are two solutions to this:

1. Cruise ships are equipped with stabilizer fins. They work when the ship is in motion; the higher the speed, the better they work. One solution is to run the ship in a very large circle or figure 8.

2. Another, greener, solution works while at anchor or at low speed, using actively-controlled fins (such as the Stabilisation at rest system developed by Rolls Royce that oscillate to counteract wave motion), and rotary cylinders employing the Magnus effect (developed by Quantum Med Marine under the MagLift™ Zero Speed™ name).

Which solution we'll choose is a tradeoff between the initial capital investment and operating cost.

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BTC investments


I've been thinking about that since I saw the Reddit thread "Any Bitcoin millionaires here on reddit" (I responded to the folks there, albeit a bit too late). There have been a few more threads of that nature in the meantime, Today I'm a millionaire (deleted account), Bitcoin millionaires, do they (really) exist ?, How 23-year-old Charlie Shrem became a millionaire through Bitcoin. Unfortunately, I don't have access to http://www.reddit.com/r/BitcoinMillionaires...

We're already running a round on AngelList, accepting USD investments in exchange for equity.

What would the community suggest as ways to enable Blueseed to raise investments in BTC?

Initial quotes from Truston Mooring and a dynamic positioning provider indicate that moving the ship at <5kn in a figure-8 pattern would be a more cost-effective option to start with, and will make it easier to move out of the way of storms.


Correct. If we mentioned a Half Moon Bay airport anywhere, please point me to that instance, as it needs clarification. HMB has a small airport, and we will provide helicopter transportation, but the main airport to access Blueseed will be SFO, from where visitors will take ground transportation to Half Moon Bay, or, will board a ferry departing from Pier 39 or the like.


Thanks for that chart. I couldn't quite find that particular telecom cable, but Submarine Cable Map (the resource we've used so far) shows one going NW-SE. The problem with submarine cables is that the cost of permits is about 8-10x the cost of the cable laying itself. However, the fiber-optic-level speed makes this a compelling option for a post-launch phase.



Actually, I'm surprised you didn't bring up the open ocean docking problem in 6ft Hs. Did you have in mind heave-compensated hydraulic gangways like the OAS[1], or just using a (decommissioned military) ship with a well dock[2]?

Of course, we'd love to have you tie your sailboat to the solution we'll end up using, as long as you don't plan to ride around it in a jet ski (motorized personal watercraft are forbidden in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, as you probably well know), and as long as you'd rather visit the many restaurants onboard (we'll cater to a variety of cuisines, reflecting the 60+ countries where entrepreneurs will come from) - a gambling casino, is a really risky PR move, and we'll stay away from that sort of activity.

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Links for those unfamiliar with solutions for the Transfer of Personnel to and from Offshore Vessels:
[1]: Offshore Access System, by Offshore Solutions BV, handling 3 meter waves
[2]: well docks are hangar-like decks in the stern of some amphibious ships

Not at this stage. This TechCrunch article about Blueseed's first seed funding from Floodgate Fund (Mike Maples) and Correlation Ventures explains the situation in more detail.

We believe so as well. Blueseed is the first commercial seasteading venture, and the team has worked at The Seasteading Institute.


We have a donation address, 1BLSD1X13k8oifNo2bMh6eVmu1FiHAEmZw

We also take investments starting at $1k, in exchange for equity, via AngelList in partnership with SecondMarket. AngelList accepts only dollars though.

Hi TomUnderSea (nice nickname :)


We're perfectly well aware of the location being in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, and that's discussed in the FAQ, along with the NOAA buoys, pictured on the map. I've added the link to the prohibitions, which if you read carefully, don't apply to us, since they're concerned with exploiting oil and gas resources, not harming marine mammals, not removing historical resources, several discharges "other than from a cruise ship". The only prohibition that applies to Blueseed is this:


Which is great, and easy to comply with. The environmental question is one we've examined carefully together with our environmental advisors (one of whom is a Nobel prize co-laureate).

As for the graphics reflecting the ocean conditions, I've added an FAQ entry,
http://blueseed.co/faq/#charter

Great to see the interest in a floating community with a strong Bitcoin focus.

I'm the co-founder and CTO of Blueseed, the first commercial seasteading venture, and I'll be speaking at Bitcoin2013. I'm very interested in the topics that the community would like to be discussed during the talk, and I've started a thread to get your feedback.

My name is Dan Dascalescu and I'm the co-founder and COO/CTO of Blueseed, an upcoming community for startup entrepreneurs in international waters, 12 nautical miles (30 minutes by ferry) from the Silicon Valley coast. I'll be speaking about Blueseed and Bitcoin at the Bitcoin2013 conference on May 19.

I've been a Bitcoin user since 2011, and I'm posting here to get the community's feedback on what topics you'd like discussed. The talk will be recorded and made available online. I'll only have a 30 minutes slot to discuss the interplay between the world's largest tech-oriented colony on a semi-independent jurisdiction, and the world's most advanced cryptocurrency... fun times.

Very briefly, Blueseed was founded in August 2011 by former directors at The Seasteading Institute, is seed-funded, has a solid business model (rent + startups equity), we've done all the research possible at this stage - ocean conditions, ship stability, ship chartering, Internet connectivity, ferry and helicopter transportation, resupply chain, waste handling, visas and immigration matters, you name it. Preliminary discussions with U.S. authorities indicate not only non-interference, but actual support. 400 startups have already expressed interest, and we've received excellent press coverage. As long as we raise Series A funding on time, Blueseed should be in the water during the summer of next year.

As such, most likely any non-Bitcoin question about Blueseed has been already asked and answered. I'll also be replying to individual mentions of Blueseed that I see were made in quite a few other threads on the forum, notably Bitcoin Island and Bitcoin Island/City and More. In the interest of time, please read up a bit on Blueseed, as remarks likening us to Bioshock/Waterworld/Lord of The Flies, suggesting that pirates will invade the ship, or that it "steals American jobs", are unoriginal and will be summarily ignored.

Please make sure to read the Blueseed Quick Facts and the Blueseed FAQ to familiarize yourself with the venture.
For plenty of videos (we've been all over the news), head over to blueseed.tv.

What would you like to be discussed? I'll split the 30 minutes of the talk into a meaty presentation of Blueseed and a Q&A/discussion session.

So far we have the following:

• Will Blueseed accept Bitcoin for payments, e.g. for rent?
• What currency will be dominant onboard? Will items in the shops there, such as food, be denominated in USD but BTC is just as welcome/preferred?
• Will companies use BTC to trade between each other for B2B services?
• What Bitcoin-centered business models would have an advantage in the Blueseed environment?
• How can BTC owners invest in Blueseed?
• How can BTC owners reserve a spot?

I'm looking forward to your proposed topics and questions.

My name is Dan Dascalescu and I'll be speaking at the Bitcoin 2013 conference on Bitcoin and Blueseed, an upcoming ship stationed in Silicon Valley's international waters, with a semi-independent jurisdiction, where Bitcoin may become a de-facto or potentially official currency.

As proof, you can find the ID of this forum topic, 15911, if you highlight a bit beyond the end of my bio (I'm the co-founder and CTO of Blueseed).