Google barge cruising from San Francisco to delta

Google's mystery barge is floating toward its new home in California's delta after being ordered to leave San Francisco.

The barge departed from Treasure Island early Thursday to comply with a Jan. 31 regulatory order concluding that Google Inc. didn't have the proper permits to build the four-story vessel there.

Google says the odd-looking vessel consisting of steel shipping containers will be anchored in Stockton, a city located about 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.

Google says the barge will serve as an interactive technology center once it's done. There has been speculation that it might be used as an aquatic store or party boat.

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