The LAVoice blog says:
Three San Diego entrepreneurs plan to start a cut-rate outsourcing plant for software development three miles off the coast of Los Angeles aboard a used cruise ship moored in international waters.
Wired with a fat T3 pipe fed by microwave, SeaCode would employ 600 developers – the bulk of them non-U.S. citizens – who could crank out code around the clock at a lower cost and higher rate of efficiency than their American counterparts. The beauty part (at least according to the proponents) is that business would be booming, the headquarters could change sail wherever business took it, and RnR would be just a half-hour water-taxi ride away. In your neighborhood.
Link (Thanks, Sean Bonner)
BB reader Kate says:
Generally, maritime folks consider "international waters" to be the high seas, which start outside of 200 nautical miles from any coastline. If by "international waters" they mean Mexican waters then they could have a ship three miles from San Diego. It would be subject to Mexican law, and there are a number of fishing collectives off Baja that patrol the area.
Boing Boing reader Kurt says:
Reader Kate was headed in the right direction, but confused international waters and exclusive economic zone. 12 nautical miles from shore is the generally accepted definition of a nation's territorial waters. Once a vessel passes beyond that point, it is considered on the "high seas" and not subject to the laws of the land. (with one notable exception). 200 nautical miles is considered to be within an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and a nation may exercise exclusive fishing rights in the 200 miles from its coast. P.S. — I am a Navy Officer.
