Sealand

[h=1]Is this really the world's smallest country? WWII-era fort off Suffolk coast has just 22 residents - but has its own king, stamps and currency[/h]
  • Tiny state consists of two concrete towers connected by an iron platform
  • Originally built as WW2 defence, it was claimed as 'principality' in 1967
  • No other country recognises it as such, but locals cling to independence
  • Lying six miles offshore from Felixstowe, state is 'ruled' by Prince Michael, 63
  • His father, Roy Bates, claimed platform as his own and crowned himself king
  • Residents catch their own fish and lobster and produce drinkable water
  • They make money by selling titles (a Count is £200) and Sealand memorabilia
  • Tourist trips to the 5,290sq ft fort are being planned for later this summer
 
Why on earth would you want to do it? true you don't pay council tax, but it is net exactly spacious and a trip tomthe shops costs a fortune in fuel... not to mention customs hassle...

Still good luck to thems as want to?
 
OR4751 said:
:confused::confused:
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Not being a citizen of Seeland, I can but surmise.. Any trip to the mainland might be awkward when stepping ashore as Border Controls will want to give you the full "immigrant" treatment ?

Meanwhils someone has to man the fort all the time to prevent the Navy "invading" in your absence?
 
Tomahawk said:
Not being a citizen of Seeland, I can but surmise.. Any trip to the mainland might be awkward when stepping ashore as Border Controls will want to give you the full "immigrant" treatment ?

Meanwhils someone has to man the fort all the time to prevent the Navy "invading" in your absence?
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Ah, but if they treated them as immigrants, that would be a tacit acknowledgement that Sealand is not British territory, so that would never do. As for jealous eyes waiting for a chance to invade... well, beauty is in the eye the the beholder, I guess.
 
Supine Being said:
Ah, but if they treated them as immigrants, that would be a tacit acknowledgement that Sealand is not British territory, so that would never do.
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That would be my take on it too.
Immigrant treatment for Sealand residents would mean the acknowledgement that they were actually coming in from 'abroad'.


Slight Fred Drift: my teenage son - who lives on the Internet - claims Sealand is working out some kind of deal with Pirate Bay to host servers.
If true, I feel this is somewhat appropriate.
 
OR4751 said:
Slight Fred Drift: my teenage son - who lives on the Internet - claims Sealand is working out some kind of deal with Pirate Bay to host servers.
If true, I feel this is somewhat appropriate.
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It has been said on the local grape vine for some years that they are in the business of hosting "offshore servers" where Governments cannot demand access to the data. maybe this was just rumour that is only now coming true?
 
I doubt they're hosting servers in any significant way. Have a look at the power requirements and connectivity infrastructure of even a modest server farm!

They'd need to tap into the wind farm next door and lay some pretty hefty, and expensive, fibre cabling on the seabed

I rather doubt it somehow

They are said to host a data store on physical media but whether that's true or not I've no idea
 
Called in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake a couple of years ago with another forumite but there was no one at home (or answering the door)

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