On June 1-2, 2012, the Seasteading Institute hosted a gathering for a hundred conferees at the Le Meridien Hotel in San Francisco. The proceedings are covered in Day 1 and Day 2.
A Blue Revolution Hawaii presentation was made by Patrick Takahashi on the Pacific International Ocean Station. (Click to view.)
A Blue Revolution Hawaii presentation was made by Patrick Takahashi on the Pacific International Ocean Station. (Click to view.)
Among the highlights were:
- Potential project of the Maritime Alliance (San Diego) by William Riedy: Portunas Project (designed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), an at-sea harbor for security and efficiency. Michael Jones, President of the Alliance, expressed interest in a working relationship with Blue Revolution Hawaii.
- Blueseed's Googleplex of the Sea (left), a floating high tech office to be floated 12 miles off Half Moon Bay, California:
- Announcement by Patri Friedman, co-founder of Seasteading, of an $8 million, 275 foot ship to serve as the Seasteading Institute's headquarters at sea.
- George Petrie, Director of Engineering for Seasteading, provided a preliminary, but comprehensive, analysis of floating platforms, and suggested that a semi-submersible was the ideal conformation. He also wants to interact with Blue Revolution Hawaii.
- Bob Nicholson, President of OTEC International, reported on their plans to build a 1 MW OTEC demonstration at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, and mentioned that they are continuing to negotiate with Hawaiian Electric Company for a 100 MW OTEC spar (left) on a power purchase agreement at an electricity cost in the range of $0.19/kWh.
- Myron Nordquist (University of Virginia, long time friend from Law of the Sea days thirty years ago) and John Briscoe (University of California, Berkeley), provided a tutorial on ocean law.
- Neil Sims (below with his kampachi) wowed the audience with his presentation on mariculture. It was 23 years ago that I convinced Neil and his wife over a bottle of Wolf Blass Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon in Sydney to leave Australia and come to Hawaii. I think he has long forgiven me.
- There were several talks on marine medical tourism, and how an offshore ship located 12 miles from the coastline would allow for a variety of treatments and medications.
- Marine algae also was well covered, but my follow-up discussions seemed to indicate that biofuels from algae were today very expensive, and it remains uncertain if this pathway would ever compete with conventional fuels. However, there are various high-value product opportunities that can be pursued on these platforms.
- Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones, President of Livefuels, discussed fuels from algae, and, in particular emphasized the matter of Peak Phosphate, and the role deep ocean fluids can play.
The Seasteading Institute was founded in 2008 by Patri Friedman (left) and Peter Thiel (right).
In case you missed this bit of Facebook's history, Thiel was the original investor, and holds 2% (now worth around $2 billion, or will when the stock price recovers someday). The Thiel Foundation was well represented and showed interest in the Pacific International Ocean Station.
- There were several talks on marine medical tourism, and how an offshore ship located 12 miles from the coastline would allow for a variety of treatments and medications.
- Marine algae also was well covered, but my follow-up discussions seemed to indicate that biofuels from algae were today very expensive, and it remains uncertain if this pathway would ever compete with conventional fuels. However, there are various high-value product opportunities that can be pursued on these platforms.
- Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones, President of Livefuels, discussed fuels from algae, and, in particular emphasized the matter of Peak Phosphate, and the role deep ocean fluids can play.
The Seasteading Institute was founded in 2008 by Patri Friedman (left) and Peter Thiel (right).
In case you missed this bit of Facebook's history, Thiel was the original investor, and holds 2% (now worth around $2 billion, or will when the stock price recovers someday). The Thiel Foundation was well represented and showed interest in the Pacific International Ocean Station.
The following PowerPoint was largely developed by Guy Toyoma, and first presented by Patrick Takahashi at the the Seasteading Conference in San Francisco on June 1, 2012.
PREAMBLE: Floating in space is the International Space Station, a $150 billion adventure which appears to be in the process of being abandoned. For one percent the cost, say $1.5 billion, the Pacific International Ocean Station is being planned to serve as a grazing plantship powered by OTEC for a global partnership to advance the development of sustainable ocean resources in harmony with the marine environment. Certainly marine biomass plantations and next generation plantations, but also opportunities for innovative business practices, exciting new living habitats and maybe even a Disney at Sea.
ANY ORGANIZATION DESIRING A PRESENTATION ON THE PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL OCEAN STATION SHOULD CONTACT ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS (e-mail addresses provided in the right column above).PREAMBLE: Floating in space is the International Space Station, a $150 billion adventure which appears to be in the process of being abandoned. For one percent the cost, say $1.5 billion, the Pacific International Ocean Station is being planned to serve as a grazing plantship powered by OTEC for a global partnership to advance the development of sustainable ocean resources in harmony with the marine environment. Certainly marine biomass plantations and next generation plantations, but also opportunities for innovative business practices, exciting new living habitats and maybe even a Disney at Sea.
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