Mysterious floating barge in SF Bay could be secret new Land of Oz

[Britton30]

A 250-foot long barge with four stories of shipping containers floating in the waters of the San Francisco Bay may actually be the home of Google’s next big marketing push.

KPIX 5 reports that several experts close to local government authorities that oversee such operations say that the barge is likely home to a major marketing effort, a “kind of giant Apple Store,” in support of Google Glass.

The barge itself is reportedly referred to as “the secret project” by locals, with the shipping containers largely concealed under a bed of black netting.

More

 

[ICIT2LOL]

A 250-foot long barge with four stories of shipping containers floating in the waters of the San Francisco Bay may actually be the home of Google’s next big marketing push.

KPIX 5 reports that several experts close to local government authorities that oversee such operations say that the barge is likely home to a major marketing effort, a “kind of giant Apple Store,” in support of Google Glass.

The barge itself is reportedly referred to as “the secret project” by locals, with the shipping containers largely concealed under a bed of black netting.

More

Does seem to sound very suspicious reading that Google has declined to comment eh??

I did have to have a quick giggle though on the ad next to it LOL!!

 

[Airbot]

Mysterious floating barge in San Francisco Bay could be secret new Goo

What kind of goo? Green goo, or..?

 

[boohbah]

most likely housing patriot missiles under the netting as a city defence , probably dotted around the city on rooftops too.
any major politicians visiting soon?

i think i watch too many action films.

 

[Layback Bear]

I do believe that Google has been looking into the proper permits and with their money I don't perceive a problem. Some over the table and some under the table.

From the article.

“The law is crystal clear in this case: The Bay is not to be used for something that can be built on land,” BCDC director Larry Goldzband told the station.

Ships are built on land and go to sea without a problem.
The sea going barge was built on land and then put to sea.
If it's use for legal purposes while floating why would San Francisco care. Well it just might also be a tax benefit for Google.
Another point would be; if a community get a little out of hand with rules/laws/taxes/payola Google can just move the barge to another location in the world.
I wonder if the N.S.A. is in partnership with this project.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I think it is a floating holiday resort for highly paid Google executives - now you could not want for a better outlook could you??

 

[Britton30]

I suppose they want to keep the bay as clean as possible. If it wasn't restricted some there'd soon be a bunch of floating Wal*Marts, theaters, restaurants, hotels, etc.

 

[A Guy]

Mysterious floating barge in San Francisco Bay could be secret new Goo

What kind of goo? Green goo, or..?

It's a secret

They are very protective of the Bay and wetlands here. For years there were salt production ponds along the bay, they are now being reclaimed for wetlands. All our sewer openings have signs that say that anything put in flows to the Bay, etc. It is a rather fragile ecosystem, and anything near it must go through rigorous environmental impact reports. It would be unlikely Google would ever get a permit, and more unlikely they would build something without it.

A Guy

 

[Anak]

What is Google up to?

One on the East coast:

What’s inside the four-story structure that was towed into Portland Harbor on Oct. 11 and how it will eventually be used remain a mystery, but some clues have emerged.

A barge holding a mysterious four-story structure has been tied up at Cianbro Corp.’s Rickers Wharf Marine Facility off Commercial Street in Portland since its arrival on Oct. 11.
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

​

The structure itself isn’t hidden away. It’s still on the barge that hauled it into Portland, docked at the Rickers Wharf Marine Facility, where Cianbro Corp. is scheduled to do a significant amount of interior work on it, including the installation of undisclosed technological equipment

Source: Clues emerge about mystery structure on barge in Portland Harbor | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

One on the West coast:

Four storeys tall, 250ft long and 72ft wide, there’s little doubt that Google’s latest idea is a big one. The only problem: nobody knows what it is yet.

Source: Google is keeping everyone guessing over mystery barge floating in San Francisco Bay - Americas - World - The Independent

Google takes secrecy to new heights with mystery barge | Reuters

An Up Close Look at the East Coast Google Mystery Barge | Gizmodo



EDIT:

I'll have to get new glasses, I looked and was positive i didn't see Britton's thread.

Thanks for the move, mods, admin.........

 

[Britton30]

It's OK Steve, at least the title now won't confuse anyone that it's about "goo".:sarc: That's probably why ya missed it.

Since Google isn't responding or say they have no comments, that's pretty telling to me.

 

[Anak]

Thanks Gary, I see someone fixed it.

I wonder if we'll ever know what their up to, maybe a Tardis for that Surface Tablet Microsoft put up in London?

 

[smarteyeball]

Google is just taking the piss now.

 

[A Guy]

Google’s Secret Revealed: Barge To Offer High-End Showrooms, Party Deck

Google’s mysterious floating barge on San Francisco Bay will feature luxury showrooms and a party deck for the tech giant to market Google Glass and other gadgets to invitation-only clients, multiple sources told KPIX 5.

Source

A Guy

 

[Britton30]

Glad it's not the ninja turtles as some admin proposed by changing the title.

There must be several thousand "invite only" clients to warrant having two floating thins on each US coast.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hey I just found out it is a giant sponge cake for Googles birthday

 

[Britton30]

LOL, now they think it has something to do with Australia.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

LOL, now they think it has something to do with Australia.

Bum been sussed out

 

[Britton30]

Admin is geographically challenged.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Admin is geographically challenged.

Only cos they are upside down mate LOL!!

 

[Layback Bear]

I do believe that Google has hired the proper companies to make sure the barge will meat all Federal, State, and local laws and permit requirements.
All this secret stuff brings Google a lot of free advertisement and they love it.
A sea going barge will have to have a ship of some kind to move it around.
Because it's modular they could take it apart and transport it on a large cargo ship. It can be move around on land like any other modular building. This whole modular thing is not new except for the barge thing. I don't believe that has been done before.