Manmade ‘floating island’ to host off-shore entertainment

Monday, February 08, 2010

A GIANT steel float that will be part of a "floating island" in Seoul boasting off-shore entertainment facilities began a snail-paced trip towards the city’s Han River Saturday.

The football-field-sized structure, resembling the hull of a cargo ship, moved at a barely noticeable speed over rows of giant rubber airbags from a assembly site to the water just 60 metres away.

The three-metre high float, 85 metres long and 49 metres wide, will be part of Viva, one of three artificial islets to be built near Banpo Bridge. They will be used for conventions, water sports, restaurants, performances and exhibitions.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, February 08, 2010