A Historic Bridge Must Be Dismantled To Get Jeff Bezos' $540 Million Yacht Out Of Dock

Jalopnik ^ | 02/02/2022 | Erin Marquis

[nascarnation]

A Dutch company is currently building a 417-foot mega yacht for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos that, once complete, will be the largest sailing vessel in the world. The only problem? Its three masts are too tall to leave the shipyard without dismantling a huge piece of Dutch history and infrastructure: the Koningshavenbrug bridge, also known as the De Hef.

The bridge has stood in Rotterdam since 1927. It was heavily damaged in 1940 when the German Luftwaffe bombed the city. During renovations of the bridge in 2017, the city council promised residents the bridge would never again be dismantled. But when you have Bezos money, never is not all that long, from Dutch News:

[nascarnation]

Life is hard. But they'll get through it.

[Vigilanteman]

I hope the local preservations sue the crap out of the place just to run up Bezos’ bill.

[EEGator]

I had the exact same problem...

[ClearCase_guy]

During renovations of the bridge in 2017, the city council promised residents the bridge would never again be dismantled. But when you have Bezos money, never is not all that long

Never = 5 years

[ProudDeplorable]

Not even the Nazi’s could take down the bridge. But leave it up to Bezos.

[MercyFlush]

Bezos must have bought more than a few Dutch politicians. Guess it’s time for him to call in some markers.

The King’s Coin.

[Jamestown1630]

‘Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Production’...

[Red Badger]

As long as he pays for it.........................

[TexasGator]

“Life is hard. But they’ll get through it.”

Think of all the workers this will employ.

Not to mention payoffs to local officials.

[TexasGator]

It was heavily damaged in 1940 when the German Luftwaffe bombed the city. During renovations of the bridge in 2017

[D Rider]

Unstep the masts, rig after you cross under the bridge? Or is this boat such a wonder that they skipped basic sailing yacht design criteria and contruction?

[Tell It Right]

I guess the Leroy Jethro Gibbs approach for getting the boat out wouldn't work in this case.

[Raycpa]

Talk about over compensating issues.

[eyeamok]

They should tell him to GO POUND SAND

[poinq]

The reason billionaires buy these yachts is to do things without laws. They go just a little farther out than any countries laws. And thats where the rules don’t exist. Of course you can get killed out there as well. But nobody has one of these yachts and does not have a sex fantasy that is against the law in most places.

[A Navy Vet]

Like someone said in the movie, “Wall Street”, how many yachts do you need to ski behind? Could be a different movie.

[1Old Pro]

$535 to build the yacht, 5 million to do the bridge.

[Afterguard]

+1. Standard ops in shipyards. Didn’t read the whole thing but comment about 3 masts leads one to believe it is a sailing vessel in some configuration

[nascarnation]

#pocketmoney

[cuz1961]

skipped basic sailing yacht design criteria and contruction
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Their experts sound like our experts

Highly paid flunky meathead cheating commies.