Almost a mile in length, the width of two football pitches and 25 stories high, if it ever gets off the ground and into the sea, Freedom Ship will be the largest vessel ever to set sail. We give you a brief rundown on the background and take a peek at what the masterminds behind it hope that life will be like on this giant floating community.

What is it?
It has been called all sorts of things (aside from a pipe dream) such as a trumped up cruise ship, a giant floating community, a mobile world trade centre and the largest duty-free retail shopping mall in the world.

So people will live on it then?
Yes, there will be a full-on commercial community, with almost everything that you would expect to find in your average town.

What, even roads?
No, there won't be any roads. But there will be an electric powered tram system.

Will it be an independent country?
No, as with all seagoing vessels, it will be subject to international maritime law and the laws of the country whose flag it flies (yet to be decided). There is allegedly no intent to establish a new world-view or legal system.

Where will it go?
The ship will continuously circle the globe on a two-year cycle, covering most of the world's coastal regions. The ship will provide as many as 40,000 tourists to ports around the world, including exotic tropical islands accessible only by sea.

Whose idea is it?
The idea is the brainchild of American engineer and inventor Norman L. Nixon.

How many people are working on the project?
The details are a bit sketchy. The company claims that a group of 100 professionally licensed engineers, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, and professionals from many other fields have assisted with 15,000 man-hours of work on the project over the past eight years but when pressed, it turns out that the company currently employs just four people on a full-time basis.

How big is it?
It will be 4320 feet in length - nearly five times the size of the worlds largest existing ship. That's one big boat.

How will it stay afloat?
The design is more like a raft than a traditional boat, since it has not keel for balance. Instead it is constructed from 520 airtight steel cells each measuring between 50 and 100 feet in width and 50 to 120 feet in length.

Might it sink?
Well, you can never say never (we all know what happens when you say a ship is unsinkable), but the designers say it will be extraordinarily safe, offering "unprecedented stability and safety, providing a smooth ride in the roughest seas". The designers also claim that even if all of its 98 external cells were penetrated and flooded the ship's would only drop one foot in the sea, with no significant loss in stability or safety. It will also be virtually fireproof, which is a good thing seeing as it's surrounded by all that water.

It's going to need one giant propeller, isn't it?
Not this baby. This craft will be propelled by around 100 protruding motorized units, giving it a somewhat less than impressive maximum speed of less than 10 knots.

It's going to be a bit too big to dock at the ports isn't it?
Correct. When 'docked' the vessel will remain around 12 miles off shore.

So how will people get to it? Swim?
Even for the healthiest of athletes, swimming won't usually be an option in many of the icy cold ocean waters, or shark-infested tropical seas, but there will be a fleet of ferries to take people back and forth to the ship. Some people will also have their own private craft. Oh and don't forget the two airstrips that will be big enough to cater for commercial jet engines!

Airstrips, really?
Yes, the top deck will be take any aircraft that can land and take off in less than 3,900 feet, including some planes that can take up to 40 passengers.

Wow, it really is going to be big.So how many people will it cater for?
Freedom will be large enough to bring on more than 50,000 residents, 15,000 employees, 20,000 day guests.

Crikey, it's going to be a big cramped, isn't it?
Once again, not if the promoters are to be believed. They have calculated that it will offer more than four times the square footage per person than the most spacious modern cruise liner. Residents will also enjoy ample open space. The main Promenade Deck is 100-feet wide. It and the six other 70-foot-wide exterior decks that circle the ship offer over 140 acres of outside open space.

What sort of homes will the people live in?
Residents will live in above-deck units with private balconies overlooking the ocean, the landscaped malls, or decorated hallways. Unlike other ships, there will be no people facilities below deck. Residents will enjoy in-home entertainment, including over 100 channels of worldwide satellite-TV and local programming from neighboring countries. All residential and commercial units will have access to the Internet and an extensive onboard data base. Residents will be able to review onboard activity schedules and make restaurant and entertainment reservations via computer.

What else will there be to do by way of entertainment?
Residents can stay healthy active using the ship's athletics facilities, tennis & basketball courts, bowling alleys, driving range and putting greens, swimming pools, gyms, health spas, dance floors, roller rink, and walking, running, and bicycle paths. They can fish from the ship's marina, chartered boats, or their personal yachts. More than you can do in many British towns. A network of landscaped parks will provide open space for the use and enjoyment of residents, guests, and visitors. And last but not least, an array of restaurants, casinos, nightclubs, and theatres will provide residents and visitors with a variety of options for a night out on the 'town'.

Where will people work on the ship?
Retailing and world trade will be the predominant businesses, but the full range of facilities will provide a large amount of employment opportunities in areas such as the library, schools, hospital, supermarkets, retail and wholesale shops, banks, hotels, offices, warehouses, hospitality, athletics and fitness, touring, arts and crafts, personal counselling, entertainment and even light manufacturing and assembly enterprises.

How much will normal things cost on the ship?
Freedom Ship's developers are keen to keep the onboard cost of living fairly low. The maintenance fees seem quite high, but there are no taxes to pay on any good or service. The cost of utilities, food, and other services should be broadly comparable with a modern western country. Some of the recreation facilities are planned to be free of charge.

Right, I'm convinced. How much will it cost to buy a place on the ship?
Advertised advance purchase prices start at $121,000 for a very basic unit with no kitchen and run right up to $7.3 million for the ultimate giant floating pad. The average sales price is a staggering $800,000 - much higher than the $250,000 that was originally projected. There will also be monthly maintenance fees ranging from around $500 $5,000 each month. Purchase prices shoot up once the ship is completed, but if you're a bit strapped, then you can always get a two-week timeshare for just $40,000...