The request that a historic bridge be dismantled to accommodate Jeff Bezos' megayacht was scrapped by the Dutch ship builder.
Oceanco, a Netherlands-based custom yacht builder, informed the city of Rotterdam that it would no longer be requesting a permit to remove the center portion of the Koningshaven Bridge, known locally as De Hef. A letter written by a city official was translated from Dutch to English with the help of the internet.
Oceanco isn't going ahead with the plan for the time being because the city didn't rule out the possibility of a future permit to dismantle the bridge.
Oceanco's plan to take apart the bridge may have been abandoned due to public opposition. The shipbuilder was taken aback by the uproar and decided not to proceed with the project, according to documents obtained by the newspaper.
According to a translation, shipyard employees feel threatened and the company is afraid of vandals.
If the yacht isn't able to fit under the bridge, Oceanco could finish it at a shipyard closer to the sea.
The company didn't reply immediately.
Rijnmond reported in February that the 417-foot vessel would need to pass through Rotterdam and De Hef before it could leave for the sea.
Despite its clearance of over 131 feet, Bezos' ship has three masts that are too tall to pass under the bridge. The solution was for the center portion of the bridge to be temporarily removed and replaced once the vessel passed through.
The maritime sector can take a ship to sea if the city gives the go-ahead. The city would not pay to dismantle the bridge and reassemble it, according to van Heijst.
There were immediate objections to the plan. Locals began organizing an event on Facebook to throw rotten eggs at the yacht when it passed by.
Brad Stone's book "Amazon Unbound" reported the existence of Bezos' megayacht. In October of last year, photos and videos were published showing a yacht in a Dutch shipyard with a black hull and massive decks.
Stone reported that the yacht is expected to cost $500 million and is expected to be one of the best sailing yachts in existence.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
