Jeff Bezos’ superyacht is being built near the city – but now many never leave the port
A Dutch city has reportedly refused to dismantle a historic bridge so that Jeff Bezos can sail his new superyacht through the city.
The Amazon founder is having the superyacht constructed in Rotterdam by company Oceanco.
Back in February, Rotterdam city officials announced, but then seemed to reverse, plans to dismantle part of the historic Koningshaven Bridge, so that Bezos could sail his triple-masted superyacht through the port.
But the New York Times reports that a Rotterdam City Council member said that representatives for Oceanco have now decided not to apply for the bridge-dismantling permit.
The yacht is being built in a shipyard near to the city, but it is now unclear whether Bezos’ 417-foot-long (121 meters) yacht will even be finished, let alone leave the area.
There had been plans for the 95-year-old bridge, nicknamed “De Hef”, to have its central section dismantled to allow the superyacht to leave the port.
Although the bridge alteration was always intended to be temporary, the prospect of altering such a historic landmark of the city angered many of its residents.
Thousands signed up to an online campaign to throw rotten eggs at the superyacht in protest.
If the yacht is completed, it will take the title of the world’s largest sailing yacht, GeekWire reports.
It was scheduled to be completed this year.
According to the Financial Times, Oceanco’s back-up plan for construction is to pass the hull under the bridge and then build the masts afterwards.
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