Living on the ocean is already happening - superyacht owners do it. Fact is, it is a very small and very exclusive segment of society, that has near to cero impact.
It was also discussed on other threads that using concrete shell structures we can lower the cost of a "floating live aboard homes" to average European and US city housing prices - doing it much more economic than traditional YACHT industry.
Exploiting the benefits of concrete shell mass production we could make living on the water (including the open sea) the cheapest available housing solution on the planet - problem is:
If we give a floating concrete shell platform to the poor people and enable them to live aboard go offshore and live relative comfortable for only 3000 USD on a 6m diameter float that is not a "yacht" but still much better than a wooden hut in a cramped settlement - a option that has not existed yet - will we create a overfishing problem? Is there a way to develop sustainable aquaculture solutions.
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Aquaculture at large scale in protected coastal waters seems to create some problems maybe moving the business to the high seas is the only viable solution.
Once on the ocean attending a submerged fish industry - giant surface flat floats - or submerged concrete shell structures may be the ideal live aboard solution suitable for doing the job.
Lets just accept for a moment the "theory" that "flat concrete shell raft solitions" can be developed into being the most economic housing solution on the planet. We create a opportunity for tousands of "non filthy rich people" to float out and look for a living and fortune on the oceans.
It will not be a problem in the sense of "space available" - but given the fact that the open ocean is mostly a productive desert - we need to develop some kind of sustainable living base or things will not work. The society segment that is living on the ocean for the moment (super yacht owners) draw their living from their "swiss bank accounts" - this is not possible for the "seasteading mainstream".
Gardening the ocean desert to feed a growing population might be a solution - i think we will have to step away a bit from the concept of acres/head as it is handled for agriculture.
Is there a estimate of the "possible sustainable food production of the oceans" ?
The floating shell structure will be for "housing" purpose. It will replace the "ship" as working platform.
The "gardening" must work in the ocean in the sense of "aquaculture" - the community will produce "seafood". If we do meat and crop in floating structures it will be "cultivating cells" , hydrophonics and similar.
I agreee that a couple of small seasteads can live on tourism and ship/yacht services - but probably not a larger development. Aquaculture, Mining, Energy (wave, wind, geothermal) are things that can create more permanent settlements due to their "high business volume" capacity.
Tourism is already attended (cruseships beach condos), fishing is in free fall towards no future, so there must be something new and sustainable that has a "future" and where living on the ocean is a advantage not a draw back.
Most important anything we will IMPLEMENT on large scale in the next 50 years must be "invented" and "somehow solved and out there" already today.
Just remember internet - connected computers are around since the dawn of DOS - internet is just the massification of a "long invented thing" on "larger scale". Somehow large scale implementation has a quality of its own. The core of seasteading is "large scale implementation" of existing "waterfront development". So making just another "glorified cruiseship condo" will not lead us anywhere. Social relevant developments are the massive implementation of techniques invented 50 years ago - this is kind of a general rule.
I've been looking into the development of a live aboard floating patform in the form of small (50'D, 10'H) ferro-concrete hexagons. Basically a monolithic hull with living quarters built inside and a "conning tower" entrance. For production reasons and sheltered (relatively) location I'm considering the North end of the Sea of Cortez with actual construction in Rocky Point.
Instead, the bloom attracted a swarm of hungry copepods. The tiny crustaceans graze on phytoplankton, which keeps the carbon in the food chain and prevents it from being stored in the ocean sink. Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research reported that the copepods were in turn eaten by larger crustaceans called amphipods, which serve as food for squid and fin whales.
Instead of enclosed systems, perhaps a larger scale project would revitalize an old resource to maintain a platform.
I'm interested in others views upon this subject. The current idea is to join 19 hexes into a larger platform that would act as a focal point for independantly owned individual hexes or clusters.
Lakeland, there has been a lot of discussion about this in the seasteading.org forums (the old drupal ones) and the consensus is that for platform building it must be modular simple economic. So i would just go for the most simple shapes the most easy form of connection etc.
You will find what i have investigated on this field when you search "concrete honeycomb structures" with the search function of this forum. (cube, box, shapes) catamaran shapes, plate shapes.
Aquaculture will certainly be a driving factor in ocean colonization but as it looks for now - deep sea mining is leading the field, followed by energy, (wind turbines, current turbines).
The idea that a floating platform can (and will create) a oasis in the desert of the ocean - is prooven. Any debris field and any oil rig is creating such a oasis of life already just by providing shelter - not even starting providing nutrients.
Drifting vegetation like sargasso weed - as a hatchery for fish and turtles...the "sealife magnet effect" of a structure is so strong that a person in a life raft can survive just eating the fish gathering below the raft - people have survived ocean crossings on that base.
-- Edited by admin on Friday 8th of June 2012 02:17:52 PM
Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc. proposes to produce Yellowfin and Bigeye tuna in which the fingerlings are grown in land-based tanks then grown out to market size in offshore submerged cages, that are self-powered un-tethered "Oceanspheres." The proposed ocean lease site is a one square kilometer (247-acre) site, located 2.6 nautical-miles offshore Malae Point, North Kohala which is outside of the designated whale sanctuary. Twelve Oceanspheres will be deployed incrementally over four years, culminating with an annual production capacity of 6,000 tons.
The spaces between the outer hull and the pressure spheres allow to store equipment like ROVS and deploy them out of the streamlined fairing. This is also a good feature for a aquaculture oriented venture - it allows to store equipment - and still do quick voyages between the harbor and the oceanic floating cages for crew and product transfer.
-- Edited by admin on Friday 20th of July 2012 05:39:43 PM
To get a closer view how Captain Nemo as a aquaculture pro would live and work, see Neil Sims and ocean cage real world testing. Ocean cages give a better performance than shore near aquaculture.
Neil is talking about the "incredible force of the ocean to break things".
The hardship of living on a ship that is stationary on the ocean and moves all the time.
The idea to work the cages in a "space station like configuration".
And the exceptional Return on Investment of oceanic aquaculture.
The more I investigate this subject I find that, outside of lakes/rivers, it requires great size and/or expense to live in open ocean.
The issue comes down to survivability of structure in extreme weather.
Submerged habitats have the best chance of survival, but sea-floor structures still have earthquake and land(sea)slide issues.
I'm familiar with concrete domes, having built some and also having worked on an earthship in Arizona. I've looked with interest at the concrete submaines on this site and think there may be a good combination of concepts available to procede with due consideration. Please excuse me if I use inappropriate terminology as I'm not a seaman.
If a pressure hull of 36' inner dimension were constructed of appropriate thickness, with an outer non-pressure hull at 40' to contain ballast tanks and propulsion, you would have a mobile platform of habitat size. 3 decks with 8' ceilings would give you 2,600 sq.ft. combined. The volume would be about 692 metric tons displaced inside the pressure hull (excluding ballast hull). Picture the outside hull like a golf ball, replacing the dimples with 3" reducer ports connected to 4" pipe, evenly spaced. Use PVC pipe buried in the exterior hull to increase pressure strength, with the hull divided into sections and water pressure thereto controled by actuated valves. Use existing tech; multiple high pressure submersible water pumps and electric control valves to switch intake/output in a balanced fashion from section to section.
By switching input/output you would have 360 degree control of direction without rudders or propellors. By screening the ports you would prevent clogging and could blow matter away from the screens by reversing water flow. (Using valves to reverse direction.) Drawing water from the direction of travel would create a forward suction eliminating or reducing water resistence and allowing greater speed with less effort.
A single 1000 gpm pump would move 3.79 metric tons pm. The only interior hull penetrations would be for electric lines, snorkle and hatches.
I haven't found anything similar online except the concept of a spherical sub. I also believe that funding may be available.
I agree that for a surface floating structure size is of essence as well for providing comfort (movement) as for surviving "tail events" like the draupner wave. Submerged habitats solve both issues for small (family house sized) structures. They can provide movement free comfort and survival in all weather conditions inculding draupner events (comming up 4 times a year).
Concrete domes are a subchapter of concrete shell building, i agree that concrete shells and honeycomb structures are the technology of choice to build structures for ocean colonization.
I have considered 2 hull concepts (pressure resistant inner shell plus streamlined outer hull) especially for underwater salvage sistems. For a habitat i would perfer a single hull concept.
I do not understand what is the use of pvc pipe and how you pretend "increase pressure strength" and "control pressure by valves" - i would see that as a concept error. Finally a concrete shell can go at least 2000m deep so there is no use for complicated uncertain sistems to increase pressure performance parameters.
I also do not see a need to have complicated sistems so replace rudder and propeller - both are items that have their place in naval engineering for good reasons due to their ease of installation and maintenance.
A spherical sub would be a similar concept like sea orbiter - working like a yellyfish - being moved almost entirely by current with low level propulsion - i would see a whale like shape and mobility as a much better concept as it gives you a lot of advantage with no additional cost - why giving away mobility. If you want you can still work a whale shape in drifting mode like BEN FRANKLIN but you are not LIMITED to it as a "clumpsy non streamline shape" would be.
Hull penetrations - the item of a shaft going from a low pressure side to a high pressure side is no "technical issue" - any commercial waterpump and any hydraulics cylinder deals with that.
The seals that are commercially available for this kind of application last for years - if they leak they do it when the sistem is not under pressure - pressure sets them tight.
You should be careful with "designing concepts" on the base of "imaginary problems" creating real problems in the path.
When going for a concept just stick to the proven - use tech items in the same way as they are used for other applications. - It is probably for a good reasons why electromagnetic propulsion is not widley in use...but i am no expert on that...so i do not have a solid opinion.
Any interior design seen in business jets or yachts is possible - plus a whole lot more - as you do not have strikt weight limits in a submersible living space bubble. So feel free to add a jaccuzzi - also there is no need to bolt everything down as the living space bubble stays on "even keel" under all ocean conditions this opens the possibility of using standard chairs and other off the shelf solutions form the standard housing market.
To get a picture how big the living space inside a submersible living space bubble is, how light comes in, check this video: www.youtube.com/watch - notice that light comes from above what makes interior design much easier than in a business jet (much less artificial light required)
We can do the hull for 331 Euro/ ton of displacement. The hull seen in the video above (18m / 200 ton) is for 66.200 Euro -
In general terms " semi/submersible living space bubbles " seem to be a great and economic way to independent mobile seasteading taking weather and wave concerns out of the equation allowing scaleability from mobile home size to city size.
If you want stay permanently on the open ocean the only feasible solutions are a submerged living space or a ramform floating base in a size that exceds 30m beam for stability and comfort. (Ramform Banff).
The stern section of the ramform allows lowering the freeboard to almost waterlevel which facilitates the access the the ocean and enables the concept of "working on the ocean" instead of crossing an ocean as normal ships do.
-- Edited by admin on Saturday 21st of July 2012 01:03:58 AM
In re: pressure in lines, I was thinking of pump output pressure in PVC as submerged pressure would be uniform in a streamlining outer hull. As my construction abilities are all related to above sea level building that was my consideration. What I was wondering was if directional water pressure propulsion could mimic electromagnetic propulsion? Also, I thought that hull penetrations (like drive shafts) represented potential weak areas under high pressure.
I enjoy finding ways to build something by revamping concepts I have used before, which was the underlying concept behind my post.
We have built concrete shells and honeycombs in cartagena at a general project performance cost of only USD 480 / ton.
This places floating concrete structures in the range of "low budget housing" in urban environment what concerns cost per squarefoot.
Floating concrete shell and honeycomb structures are therefore the only technology that opens a realistic door to ocean colonization in the sense of seasteading.
-- Edited by admin on Saturday 21st of July 2012 01:26:39 AM
. pilot projects in cartagena - to test out the options of small scale floating concrete platforms - honeycomb structures, shell structures, foam structures - all has been tested in small scale pilot projects.
The large scale concrete floating structures built in the last 3 decades to serve oil / gas industry bridge construction etc...
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Some of those structures have decades of permanence in marine ambient without any deterioration reported - so if you want build a permanent maintenance free base on the ocean - concrete is the way to go.
A small concrete floating structure from a pilot project in Cartagena Colombia - concrete paves the way at sea - not only in large industrial scale - also in smaller scale.
... running a diesel 24/7 is not cheap, even if it is the smallest diesel you can find. The beauty of a snorkel boat concept is in the fact that your diesel can be very small - much much smaller than anything that a surface ship of similar size could have.
In a surface ship the diesel needs to be strong enough to bring the bow into the wind during a storm. In a snorkel boat the diesel just has to overcome the windforce created by the sail area of the snorkel.
The diesel in a submarine yacht is ten times smaller, needs ten times less fuel. The high tank capcity is a option that you can take advantage of when you visit a country where diesel is incredible cheap - so you can get a year supply of fuel. You are in no obligation to fill this enourmous tank to start your journey.
If you are low budget you might use your diesel only the first day to engage the golf stream in Florida then shut it down and opt for a pure drift dive ocean crossing as Ben Franklin (see log Benjamin Franklin drift dive) did - and start your diesel again at the end of the voyage when England comes in sight some 45 days later. The total diesel use for crossing the Atlantic would be a few liters.
Other than the Ben Franklin which was assisted by a surface ship to catch the golfsteam - a whale shaped boat with a small diesel can take the trip into the stream with no assitance.
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The crew of the Ben Franklin was the first to stay in open ocean in a small boat without beeing afected by waves and seea sickness - this leads to the submerged living bubble concept as first choice for colonizing the open oceans with small scale structures.
The fact that oceanic waves move structures makes comfortable stay in open ocean only feasible for structures and platforms in excess of 100m loa and 40m beam - there is only one way to stabilize a small living space in open ocean to "permanent housing comfort grade" - submerge it like Ben Franklin.
Once you achive housing comfort in the open sea - the need to stay in the marina that ties all small yachts- is gone.
A real worldwide nomadic lifestyle can be created.
17 Jul 2010 – Topic: live aboard floating platform for the poor – aquaculture as a sustainable business | Our mission: To further the establishment and growth ...
One of the cheapest floating solution is the use of 208Lt plastic barrels, .... The materials cost for live-aboard boats is pretty similar to our options ... or aquaculture if we wanted to, from a swim dock, but ports get really .... Due to over-emphasis on speed contemporary sailing yachts have low cargo capacities, ...
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File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - YX_5D-Vs0MATolTyHHfKv0g">Quick View The Implementation guide for the Great Sandy Regional Marine Aquaculture Plan ...Business Information Centre: 13 25 23 ...Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population ..... The working platform and pontoon shall not be used for live aboard... Any fixed or floating platforms that do not meet the requirements below ...
23 Sep 2012 – People on the dock ask if we've been out, and we just… haven't. ... happening, the construction and rebuild projects, and all the yummy liveaboard goodness going on. ... When you're cruising, you have time between locations to just float. .... We have gotten accolades ranging from low whistles to standing ...
16 Nov 2010 – Both government regulators and the Canadian salmon aquaculture industry face ...Business plans are unique to individual projects, and must be ...Life cycle analysis of such a demonstration facility should also be ... Free on Board..... around floating walkways and a service platform containing pumps, ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML farms. The sustainable development of the Irish aquaculture sector is a key priority for my ... ECOPACT initiative has been unveiled on board the historic and beautiful replica ship, ... is no room for complacency and no room either for poor operators or low standards. ... running a business, which benefits the community, the ...
Wide and fast-flowing, the Hau River is home to miles of cage farms that float... The net cages or pens are suspended below low, gray platforms with peaked roofs. ... plants, and drying laundry that indicate a family or hired worker lives on board. ... locals have traded artisanal fishing for more profitable businesses in farming, ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View by A Bolonkin - 2010 - Cited by 1 - Related articles states as cheap floating platforms created from a natural ice field taken from the ... cient means for sustainable ocean colonization by mobile humans. ... station settlements; adjustments to social life under harsher .... An International Trade Center that gives on-board.... thickness and composition, including ices of low density ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe is published five times a year and it is also available ...on board fishing vessels can prevent accidents and health .... brought back to life using Iranian methods for preparation and ... development of sustainable fishing in Europe. .... Trout are also grown in floating cages at sea, in the low- ...
Floating Platforms are used widely in Aquaculture and represent a very cost effective solution for protected and semi-exposed sites. They can be used either as ...
ASAKUA floating platforms are designed and built for a wide variety of marine, fishing and rescue applications. Manufactured entirely from rugged high density ...
17 Jul 2010 – Topic: live aboard floating platform for the poor – aquaculture as a sustainable business | Our mission: To further the establishment and growth ...
26 Oct 2011 – Living on the ocean is already happening - superyacht owners do it. Fact is, it is a very small and very exclusive segment of society, that has ...
Find detailed product information for floating platform and other products from Zhejiang Zhongya Industrial ... swimming pool, as well as aquaculture net cage.
Experience from outside the aquaculture sector, e.g. with oil platforms, may well ... grown on a tethered rope or suspended from a floating raft in net containers.
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML The Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance and the Island Oyster Growers ...... stable platform than the floating bags and again provide a good platform from ...
What about plastic reclamation in the Pacific gyre? Everything done to-date [http://www.projectkaisei.org/index.aspx] seems to be a drop in the bucket. The resource (plastic) is already there; mechanisms for plastic to oil, plastic to building material or regular recycling already exist. Its one of those environmental "feel-good" projects where pictures and documentation of the problem have already been done which easily show this as a growth area for decades to come. Just getting the surface plastic up would take years (decades) even without the fact that plastic is being added daily.
Take the low-income housing aspect, combine it with recycling factory barges which can be towed into place, and you have an immediately exploitable reason (and ability) for seasteading.
There's an enormous after-market for steel shipping containers which can be marine welded into interior steel reinforcement for cast in place monolithic concrete platforms. For that matter, there are already existing companies who convert these containers into living quarters (swap side windows for skylights), which would free up surface areas for solar & wind power generation, greenhouse gardening, raising fowl and rabbits, as well as aquaculture processing in addition to plastic reclamation.
The action of the gyre would keep the whole thing in place (if in place refers to an area the size of North America).
Lakeland, there is not enough plastic in the gyre to build anything - it is about one confeti sized piece of plastic in a olympic pool .... that is a lot when you look at it from a contamination point of view - but very little when you go for construction material...
The news articles and accompanying pictures made it look like a huge resource. I should have remembered that "news" tends to be geared towards the hysterical (emotional) response.
What about shipping container salvage? They claim 2000 to 10000 lost at sea each year and losses (and position) is reported when they occur. Just looking at alternatives to aquaculture or mining that would be in range of smaller communities.
A small community on a family seastead could probably do something like submarine gold mining dredging up gold rich alluvial sands from ancient river beds, also diamond rich sands will be in reach of a small platform. If the platform is mobile it could do salvage jobs, services in the sense of ship and yacht repair or supply, tourism similar to the quicksilver concept, etc...