Austrian firm selling man-made, floating 'island' for millions

AN Austrian firm developed what it hopes is the next big thing for the mega-rich - a man-made, floating "island" with a list price of €5.2 million ($6.5 million), the company's founder said today.

Measuring 66 feet by 121 feet (20m by 37m), the "Orsos Island" has no engine but can be anchored anywhere its owners choose and then towed to another location if they wish, Hungarian-born Gabor Orsos said.

"The interest has been massive from all over the world - from Australia, China, the United States. We have already had the first preorders, and we have some potential buyers coming from Australia next week," the entrepreneur said.

The island is environmentally friendly and fully self-sufficient, with solar panels and wind generators providing power. It can sleep 12 people plus crew and offers 10,760 square feet (1000sq m) of living space.

The only problem is that no "islands" have been produced - and once manufacturing starts, it initially will be in landlocked Slovakia.

But Orsos expects the first finished products to be ready in 18 months to two years and for the "islands" to be transported down the Danube River into the Black Sea - and then to anywhere the customer wants.