Post date: Mar 07, 2014 11:26:47 AM
Google moves its controversial technology barge to the other side of San Francisco Bay after failing to acquire proper building permits.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 6, 2014) (NBC) - Google's mysterious barge finally began its journey across San Francisco Bay on Thursday (March 6).
The barge, which is made of steel shipping containers stacked four-stories high, has stirred intense speculation about its purpose since its existence was first reported in October of last year. Google, the world's No.1 Internet search engine, has kept mum on what it intends to use the barge for.Documents submitted to the Port of San Francisco in August describe an "artistic" technology exhibition space.
Google was ordered to stop construction at the San Francisco site, because the company did not have necessary building permits. Work on the project was halted last fall when the agency that oversees development in the San Francisco Bay inCalifornia begun a formal investigation into the project.
On Thursday, tugboats began moving the barge east across the bay towards towedStockton, California, about 80 miles (128.7 km) up the estuary of the Sacramento River.
A spokesperson for Google said the barge had "grown tired of all the attention" and was looking forward to Stockton's asparagus festival.
The port of Stockton has agreed to host the barge for six months, at an estimated cost to Google of about $10,000 (USD) a month.