Jeff Bezos’s New $450 Million Yacht Delivery Might Require Dismantling Of Historic Dutch Bridge

Jeff Bezos’s gigantic superyacht is about to be completed soon. However, getting it delivered to the proud owner will also need taking out a portion of a bridge first built-in 1927. The 417-foot-long Y721 is being constructed by Alblasserdam, Netherlands-based Oceanco.

For it to hit the ocean, it’ll have to sail through Rotterdam and also navigate a steel bridge called De Hef. De Hef’s central span can possibly be raised over 130 feet, but it will still not be high enough for accommodating the three giant masts of the yacht.

So temporarily, the city has agreed on taking apart the central section of the bridge in summer for Bezos’s yacht to sail through. This was informed by a Rotterdam spokeswoman named Frances van Heijst. The NL Times disclosed the bridge plan Wednesday.

The Y721 is expected to be one of the biggest sailing yachts to be ever constructed in the Netherlands, which is recognized as the unofficial capital of boat construction for wealthy people. The Rotterdam council project’s leader named Marcel Walravens defended the city’s choice to permit the bridge to be temporarily dismantled, telling broadcaster Rijnmond how it has been the “only alternative” to finish off what the municipality refers to as an essential assignment economically.

Van Heijst added that Oceanco is going to foot the cost of the bridge’s demolition. It is more likely that some of the costs entailed are going to be passed on to Bezos, the second-richest individual in the world with a net worth of about $175.8 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

De Hef, a well-known icon of Rotterdam’s heritage, is also a shipbuilding hub. The news of partial demolition has resulted in a massive stir, especially among the locals.

This is not the first or only problem that popped up due to Y721’s huge masts. The enormity of the yacht’s sails will make it insecure to help land a helicopter onboard. Hence, Bezos decided to commission a support yacht that is has a helipad and will help trail alongside.

Rising levels of personal wealth have pushed superyacht sales to make a record in 2021. About 887 similar ships have been sold in 2021, a 77% hike from a year before, and more than double the number noted in 2019, per a report from VesselsValue, a maritime data company. Burgess, a boat building major reported over 2 billion euros in superyacht sales in 2021.

Reference: livemint.com

Latest Shipping News You Would Like:

US Navy Unmanned Surface Vessels Visit Yokosuka, Japan For The First Time

Posted on September 22, 2023

Unmanned Surface Vessel Division ONE, Unmanned Surface Vessel dubbed the “Ranger” is observed to be anchored at the Fleet Activities Yokosuka.

U.S Navy To Carry Out Biggest Overhaul of Its Top-Secret Undersea Surveillance Network To Counter China

Posted on September 22, 2023

The U.S. Navy has been investing billions of dollars for the revamp of its Cold War-time submarine detection system in the Pacific Ocean.

3 South African Navy Personnel Die After Being Swept Off Submarine Deck By Gigantic Wave

Posted on September 22, 2023

Sven members of the crew and a submarine were reportedly swept off the vessel’s deck by huge sea waves.

Ukraine Trolls Russia For Losing Its Attack Submarine To A Nation That Hardly Has A Navy

Posted on September 22, 2023

Ukraine is now taking a victory lap following a devastating attack on one of the main Black Sea ports last week, trolling Russia’s loss of its attack submarine.

Keel Laying Ceremony Held For US Navy’s Amphibious Assault Ship USS Fallujah

Posted on September 22, 2023

Future USS Fallujah is the fourth vessel of the America class of amphibious assault ships, built for facilitating the forward presence as well as power projection.