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The risk-reward isn't there for pirates. Seasteads will likely be well-armed, populated, far from Somalia and other pirate operating areas, and lack the large
by watchandwait 15y ago
The risk-reward isn't there for pirates. Seasteads will likely be well-armed, populated, far from Somalia and other pirate operating areas, and lack the large material payload of a cargo ship or oil-tanker.
- jackowayed 15y agoI'd guess that a lot of rich people will inhabit them, at least at first. Ransom can be pricy.
- brass_cannon 15y agoValid point, but if I am rich enough to be living on an isolated island micro-country, and will fetch a healthy enough ransom for pirates to snatch me, I am also investing a fair amount of resources into my own defense. Think small arms, ample security systems, security guards, etc.
- ahi 15y agoYou don't need to board the thing to take it ransom. Just need to have a credible threat of doing serious damage. "You have 5 minutes to wire $x into our bank account or your little country gets sunk."
- ajays 15y agoAnd when the next hurricane strikes, guess who they're gonna call? The US Coast Guard! "Help, Nanny State! Please help us!!!"
- endtime 15y agoI'm pretty sure any design that they actually go with will be resilient to plausible weather conditions.
- shabble 15y agoor they could... have some kind of contract with tugs, lifeboats, helicopter rescue, etc. You could set up some sort of insurance system for citizens/inhabitants to cover those contract retainers. Hell, you might even end up contracting it out to the Coast Guard if they meet your needs and are close enough to count.