Advertisement

Google 'Mystery' Barge Leaves San Francisco

Google's mystery barge has been ordered to leave San Francisco after it failed to have the correct building permits.

The four-storey barge departed from Treasure Island on Thursday to comply with a regulatory order issued on January 31.

Google said the odd-looking vessel, which consists of steel shipping containers, will be anchored in Stockton - around 80 miles east of San Francisco on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta.

The Port of Stockton falls outside the jurisdiction of the agency that forced the barge to leave Treasure Island.

The company said the barge will serve as an interactive technology centre when it has moved. There has also been speculation it could be used as an aquatic store or party boat.

Its construction was not authorised by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the structure triggered multiple complaints.

When the barge first appeared last year it was rumoured it could be a huge floating data centre, while others speculated it could be a fancy store to showcase products, including company's Glass wearable technology.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.