NEWS UPDATE: The MS Satoshi project has been cancelled due to insurance issues. With this current update from Ocean Builders, the information below is no longer applicable. Want to live on a cruise ship? A group of marine engineering entrepreneurs is taking advantage of the current downturn in the cruising industry to expand their operations in Panama. Ocean Builders’ MS Satoshi will have cabins auctioned off for those interested in owning a permanent residence on board.Vacation rentals will also be available. The first auction begins November 5 to 28 and includes 200 cabins. Cabins are tentatively priced between $25,000 to $50,000. The ship will be ready for residents to move in by early 2021.
The Satoshi is also known as the Crypto Cruise Ship because it is both a blockchain and non-blockchain crypto-friendly environment. Bitcoin, U.S. dollars and other forms of payment are accepted. The 804-foot ship, recently purchased from a major cruise line, is being prepared to set sail from the Mediterranean and anchor in the Gulf of Panama.
Satoshi includes 777 cabins with a capacity of 2,020 people plus crew and crew quarters. Facilities include multiple restaurants, a theatre, casino, gym and wellness areas. The ship will be used for residency, tourism, research and office space. It will also provide an incubator environment for entrepreneurs.
The cabins will be sold by Ocean Builders, the company currently building floating homes on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Ship operations will be run by a spinoff company, Viva Vivas.
The ship will be anchored a 30-minute ferry ride away from Panama City in the Gulf of Panama. While Ocean Builders recently began construction of its floating, off-grid SeaPod homes on the Caribbean side of Panama, they plan on housing employees on the ship as they begin building on the Pacific side as well. Their goal is to create a floating community for the advancement of ocean technology, engineering, sustainable living, and experimentation.
The MS Satoshi will become an incubator for innovation and entrepreneurship. It will be a gathering place for digital nomads, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, expats, researchers, and entrepreneurs. As key investor Chad Elwartowski, COO of Ocean Builders, says, “We look forward to creating a hub for technology and innovation here in Panama. Our goal is to figure out how to live sustainably on the sea and chart new waters in this new frontier.”
Ocean Builders hopes that entrepreneurs will come on board to run restaurants, events, fitness classes, and other businesses on the ship.
Residents will pay an ongoing fee for the upkeep of the ship and amenities (amount yet to be determined). Ocean Builders is able to assist residents with acquiring permanent residency in Panama if they are interested in living in the country full time.
For more information about Ocean Builders and the MS Satoshi, visit:
