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Highlights
- Jeff Bezos will foot the bill for dismantling the bridge so his new 412-foot yacht can pass.
- The historic Koningshaven bridge stood over Europe’s busiest cargo port since 1878.
- Currently, it must be temporarily taken apart each time Bezos’s under-construction vessel is taken out to the open sea.
Amazon.com, Inc (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos is bearing the cost of taking apart a historic Dutch bridge so his US$485-million superyacht can pass, it was revealed this week.
Rotterdam officials agreed to dismantle the steel Koningshaven bridge that stood over Europe’s busiest cargo port since 1878. It underwent major repair after the WWII bombings in 1927.
In negotiations last week, Bezos agreed to partly foot the bill for dismantling the historic bridge so his new 412-foot yacht, one of the world’s biggest private vessels, can pass.
The Koningshaven bridge has been one of the popular local tourist destinations. It has a height of a 13-story building, but the vessel’s three 229-foot masts are too tall for a safe pass.
Locals affectionately call the bridge “De Hef”. Currently, it must be temporarily taken apart each time Bezos’s vessel is taken out to the open sea.
A Rotterdam spokesperson told the media that the vessel’s construction generated important economic activities for the locals, which was the primary consideration behind the decision.
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Source: Pixabay
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Bezos’ Y721 Yacht Construction
Currently, the yacht is being built at the Oceanco shipyard near Rotterdam. The construction is near completion, but it is too tall and big to sail under the bridge.
The boat requires at least a 130-foot clearance to pass through. The builders had urged the authorities to remove a section, but the plan seemed impractical.
Jeff Bezos Gets Dutch Bridge Dismantled To Make Way For His Yacht | Breaking News
Bezos, 57, would pay for the operation. In 2017, the local council had promised not to dismantle it again after a major repair on the structure. Shipbuilders also had dismissed suggestions that they sail the vessel through a river and build it elsewhere.
Bezos’ wealth grew by US$5 billion last year to US$195 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest individual after Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
