Google barge plans run aground

Google’s plan to invade the shores of major American cities with floating retail outlets has hit a snag. CNET has learned that construction of Google’s barges has been put “on hiatus” in San Francisco after both the Coast Guard and at least one other public safety agency raised concerns about the company’s plans. Brad McCrea, director of regulatory affairs for the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, tells CNET that the Coast Guard has requested some design changes to the interior of Google’s barges and that Google will likely finish building the boats by the end of spring in 2014. McCrea also says that his commission is investigating whether Google will need to a permit to run floating retail stores off the city’s coastline.