The Google (GOOG) barge project, which would have created floating showrooms, was killed due to fire-safety concerns.
Information regarding the ending of the Google barge project was obtained via the Freedom of Information Act. The Coast Guard warned that the barges would be carrying 5,000 gallons of fuel and that its cargo contained a lot of combustible material. This ultimately had contractor Foss Maritime, which was building the barges, end work on the project, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The Coast Guard worked with private safety companies to tell Foss what would need to happen to make the Google barges safe. The document was 20 pages long and detailed escape means in case of fire and safety requirements. Google planned to have up to 1,2000 people a day on the barges, but Foss said there would only be 150 people on them at a time, WSJ notes.
When the Google barges first showed up last year, there was much speculation about what they would be used for. Some thought they would act as floating data centers while other believed they would be a place for parties, reports
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