Recently, I had a conversation with a boyhood friend who I,ve always perceived as one of the smartest/sharpest people I have ever known. He indicated that he has thoughts of purchasing a cruise ship and declaring it a sovereign nation. He would anchor this ship in international waters of the coast of the worlds most populated cities. He would name his country "Utopia" and feature unlimited gambling, narcotics, as well as, prostitution. He would shuttle tourists to his "country" via helicopters and airplanes. He claims he and his investors would/could become billionairs after a very few years of operation. I can't help but think, in theory, he may be on to something. Could this scheme succeed? What, if any, are the legal and political ramifacations of his plan?
2007-07-07 15:42:27 · 5 answers · asked by Stipendiary Steward 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I'm no lawyer but if there were any way this would even slightly be worth thinking it would work or be legal, trust me...It would've already been done. Certain parts of the arguments take place right now but as far as a sovereign nation, etc... No way!
2007-07-07 15:48:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not? My wife and I went off shore at Padre Island on a gambling ship in 1989, and as soon as we hit international water,5 miles out, we were allowed to gamble. The slot machines paid off like ,well, slot machines for 2 hours. Then they stopped. No more paying out. They were rigged to do this. You're boy friend has a good idea, but if you don't have good decent people living and operating on board, most will jump ship. This is nothing new and is being done as I type. And has been for a long time. But why not just skip the ship and go to a country that allow this type of activity any way?
2007-07-15 18:20:53 · answer #2 · answered by Jackolantern 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He could do it, but becoming a soveregn nation is dam hard and even then international maritime laws would apply, and would prevent trafficing of narcotics. However a much easier way would be to pay the bribes to have thier ship registered with a small foreign country and fly thier flag. This is very easy to do. And currently there are dozens of gambling boats that work out of our ports. They go out three miles to international waters and allow gambling and drinking. This happens now right here in the USA. So expanding to a "full pleasure" boat would not be hard.
But what your friend is forgetting is that you can't just stay anchored out to see in a boat. Weather, repairs, fuel, maintenance all has to be taken into consideration and most large vessels have to put into port at least once in a awhile to renew thier inspections. These inspections are required to maintain a vessel on any international waters. Also to carry any type of insurance on the boat it would require yearly structural and engineering evaluations. And unless they want it to sink the hull must be inspected and repaired. Even my offshore fishing boat has to be checked occasionaly, because I carry a captains license and occasionally charter it.
Also if he pisses off to many countries they will sanction him, and not allow the transfer vehicles, to land or take off to his ship from thier country. For example the float plane ferrying passengers from florida, would be grounded and confiscated, and then how would his customers get there?
It could be done and is being done to a certain extent all over the world. Asia for sex, South America for drugs, Vegas, for gambling. Not an original idea. Just putting it in a boat won't change much. and look at the cruise lines. They allow gambling, drinking, and if they go to the right country you can go ashore and get all the drugs you want, and prostitutes are everywhere.
2007-07-13 15:12:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its possible that it could work out that way. Its also very probable that things would turn out very badly. I know for one that it would have to comply with international law even in international waters and any drug traffic could be stopped by the powers that be. No government in the world is going to want people to be doing things off of their coast that are not allowed in their countries even if it were in international waters...
Its highly possible that it could work out and make your friend some serious bank, but if he alienates him self to the rest of the world where is he going to be welcome, and able to spend that money that he made off of it.
2007-07-07 22:57:44 · answer #4 · answered by AlaskaJoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not just purchase a desert island and declare independence?
2007-07-15 20:22:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋