Construction will be modular so that individuals can take their property with them if they leave. The platforms will likely be designed to accommodate both the docking of floating vessels as well as the placement of containerized buildings. Both floating vessels and containerized buildings have the advantage being easily moved from one platform to another, ensuring that residents can keep their property should they choose to switch platforms. Additionally, the platforms will likely be designed to provide at least some refuge from storms for both vessels and buildings.
Residents will be free to bring whatever type of vessel they choose! This may include boats or catamarans, traditional floating houses, or more novel seastead designs such as a spar. The only limitations will be related to vessel size (based on your rented slip size) and draft.
Resident will be free to bring whatever type of containerized housing they choose! This will likely be based on standard ISO containers for ease of transportation, but custom sizes could be possible depending on the platform. Multiple containers can also be connected if additional space is desired.
Atlas Island will be situated where there will be minimal exposure to hurricanes. In fact, millions of people live in hurricane zones in Asia and North America, but there is more hurricane-free space on the ocean than there is land in all of Asia and North America. You can sail from South America eastwards to Africa and never cross a place where a hurricane has been recorded. You can sail just as far West of South America and have the same experience. There are virtually no hurricanes in the South Atlantic Ocean and hardly any in an area just as large in the South Pacific Ocean. Further, if there happens to be a rogue storm, platforms will monitor weather forecasts and may choose to navigate away from any large storms as they approach.
Atlas Island will aim to become a self-sufficient community. Private businesses will compete to supply most of the goods and services needed to sustain a comfortable life on the seastead. Each resident will be free to choose which business to obtain each service from. These resources include clean water, electricity, food and healthcare. Private contractors specializing in desalination will supply fresh water. Electricity will likely be supplied by a combination of aquatic biomass, solar, wind, hydrogen, wave and OTEC energy sources. Food will be created primarily from aquaponics and aquaculture along with imports. Atlas Island will be situated in close proximity to major trade routes so that we have access to goods that are not easily producible at sea. We are carefully studying successful case studies from island settlements such as Hawaii and Singapore.
The ability to earn a living and build your career on a seastead is important. In Stage II and III, residents may choose to work virtually, run businesses within the community, or commute to nearby urban centers. In Stages IV and V, residents may choose to work remotely, or start businesses on the platforms. If you are a healthcare professional, you can collaborate with others in your field to start and operate a hospital or a clinic. If you are a farmer, you can start your own aquaculture or aquaponics enterprise. Because a seastead will likely start off as a near blank slate, you have the ability to participate in the creation of the local economy. Furthermore, the Atlas Island Board members are actively building relationships with vendors and employers across industries in order to attract them to the marina and the seastead.