Floating city project 'Freedom Ship' to span 1.6 km, house 50,000 residents

A "floating city" concept, dubbed Freedom Ship, is being revived with plans for a colossal vessel measuring 1.6 kilometers long and 240 meters wide. This ambitious project aims to create a self-sustaining community at sea, designed to accommodate 50,000 permanent residents and an additional 10,000 visitors, along with 20,000 crew members.

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One day the largest cruise ships in the world could look like tiny boats compared to this ambitious project.

The proposed city-ship would boast an array of amenities, including residential apartments, skyscrapers, educational institutions from primary to university level, a hospital, a sports stadium, a water park, museums, a concert hall, and a large diving aquarium. Residents and visitors would navigate the various districts via an internal tram system, with extensive walkways and green spaces also planned.

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Residents and visitors will be able to move by tram through different districts, and kilometers of promenades and green areas will be available.

Valued at approximately 12 billion pounds, the Freedom Ship is envisioned to be powered by nuclear energy, circumnavigating the globe every two years. Its immense size means it cannot dock in conventional ports, necessitating the use of smaller vessels for passenger and cargo transfer. The design also includes eight helipads on its upper deck.

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Due to its enormous size, it will not be able to dock in ordinary ports, but will remain in international waters, and passengers and goods will be transported by fleets of smaller ships and ferries.

First proposed by American engineer Norman Nixon in the 1990s, the concept has been revitalized by Freedom Cruise Line International, led by Roger Gooch. Construction is expected to commence in Indonesia, with the hull built in sections and assembled at sea over an estimated three to four years. The project also highlights an ecological dimension, aiming to clean oceans and boasting low carbon emissions due to its nuclear propulsion. Despite significant enthusiasm, securing the substantial initial capital remains the primary challenge.

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The ship is supposed to clean the oceans as it sails, and thanks to nuclear propulsion, it will have low carbon emissions.