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From Concept to Long-Term Development
The Freedom Ship concept was not born out of a single moment or announcement. It developed gradually, shaped over time by ongoing discussion, refinement, and reconsideration of how people might live and work in an increasingly mobile and global world.
Early exploration of the idea focused on the limits of traditional maritime models—vessels designed primarily for transport or leisure—and questioned whether urban life itself could exist on a continuously moving platform. From this line of thinking emerged the concept of a permanently mobile city at sea: a self-contained community designed to support daily life, governance, commerce, and social infrastructure over the long term.
To provide legal structure, continuity, and long-term stewardship for the project, Freedom Cruise Line International, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Florida on February 13, 2018 as a U.S. for-profit corporation. The company remains active and in good standing, with its registered office in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and serves as the official development and governance entity for the Freedom Ship project.
As the vision progressed, the project was increasingly defined not as a ship, but as a city. Design studies and planning efforts began to articulate the Freedom Ship at an unprecedented scale—approximately 1.8 kilometers in length—with capacity for tens of thousands of residents and a full range of urban functions, including housing, workplaces, education, healthcare, commerce, and recreation. The emphasis shifted toward permanence and daily life rather than passage or destination.
Continuity of leadership has been a defining element of the project’s development. Roger M. Gooch, Chief Executive Officer and Director, has served for many years as a guiding force and public representative of the Freedom Ship initiative, helping maintain long-term direction and external engagement. Robert H. Pflueger, President, Director of Legal Affairs, and Treasurer, has overseen corporate governance and legal structure, supporting regulatory consistency as the project evolved.
The architectural and urban framework of the Freedom Ship is led by Schopfer Associates, LLC, founded and led by E. Kevin Schopfer, AIA, RIBA. With decades of experience in large-scale, mixed-use environments, the firm’s involvement marked a shift from conceptual exploration to disciplined urban design—framing the Freedom Ship as a livable, functional city rather than a speculative structure.
Today, the Freedom Ship stands as a long-term development project shaped by persistence, continuity, and structured planning. Its origins reflect steady evolution rather than immediacy, grounded in the belief that cities themselves can exist beyond fixed geography.
