Biggieland?

For Sale

"Could be a base for online gambling or offshore banking"

He'd definitely be interested!

Do I win ₤40?

Hopefully Pete Cockerty will buy it (ok,kate will) an he'll fuck off.

I am interested in this, as it happens. Although not to buy.

The history of Sealand is quite interesting and a tale of true eccentricity.

They have claimed to be at war with the UK for about 40 years, basing their argument on the fact that a shot was fired at a Navy vessel as it tried to board the platform.

In recent years, they've attemppted to turn a profit from the country by claiming to be outside of the juristiction of the UKs courts and, crucially, the taxation system. They also host some ISP servers on there, claiming that this puts them outside anyone's law (or, as they would have it, within their own). You can apply for a Sealand passport if you want, but I doubt anyone would take it seriously.

King Roy seems like a top bloke really. Largely ignored by the Government because they're not really doing anyone any harm.

Doubt they'll sell it - there are loads of other similar structures dotted around. If you really wanted one you could just jump on an empty one for free.

Anyway, the thing burnt down last year - another twist in a long and strange tale.

Here's Their Website

From: EL-REG

Swedish file-sharing website The Pirate Bay is planning to buy the 550 square metre principality of Sealand, a former British naval platform in the North Sea that has been designated a 'micronation'.

The group has set up a campaign to raise money to buy the self-declared sovereign nation. Outside the jurisdiction of the UK or any other country, The Pirate Bays believes it could safely run the world's largest 'bit torrent tracker'.

Last year the Pirate Bay was closed down after raids by the Swedish police, and although it returned to a new Swedish server after a short stay in the Netherlands, the Motion Picture Ass. of America, the Swedish Anti-Piracy Bureau and the US government have all lobbied for The Pirate Bay's closure.

Sealand's royal family, Prince Roy and Princess Joan Bates and their son Prince Michael, Prince Regent, who set up the principality 40 years ago, are willing to sell the platform for £65m.

"If we do not get enough money required to buy the micronation of Sealand, we will try to buy another small island somwhere and claim it as our own country (prices start from $50,000)," the Swedish organisation says.

It is also looking at Ladonia, situated at the edge of the Scandinavian Peninsula, once ruled by King Ladon, and declared independent in 1996. ® Related stories