Vincent Callebaut’s “Lily-Pads” are cute but have they been costed..?

The SEA-STEADING Institute is a non-profit organisation founded by Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel. The organisation aims to build “start-up countries” at sea, known as “seasteads”, that will offer greater freedom for innovation in science, technology and politics.  

This image makes no sense   Judging by its protective wall of concrete caissons, it looks like a coastal marina rather than a “floating city”.  If it is in international waters they must be very shallow waters.  Since virtually all such waters are claimed by existing states, how could such an entity possibly be “independent”?

The Seasteading Institute’s floating cities are designed for unregulated innovation

Lazzarini Design wants to build a city of floating pyramids