Rotterdam bridge to be dismantled so Jeff Bezos' yacht can pass through

[Poiuyt]

A massive steel bridge in Rotterdam is to be partly demolished so that the pleasure yacht being built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos can sail through it to the sea, local broadcaster Rijnmond said on Wednesday.

The Koningshavenbrug, known to Rotterdammers as De Hef, was renovated in 2017 and the council pledged at the time it would never be dismantled again. But that promise is now set to be broken, Rijnmond said, to let Bezos’ yacht through.

The bridge, placed over the river in 1927, has had a central role in city’s history and was heavily damaged during the bombardment of Rotterdam in May 1940. The bridge is now officially protected.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/02/rotterdam-bridge-to-be-dismantled-so-jeff-bezos-yacht-can-pass-through/

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

1. I hope Bezos is paying for it....but I doubt it.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. He and the ship builder are, to wit:

From the link in the OP...
Bezos’ three-masted yacht is being built by the Oceano shipyard in Alblasserdam but is too big to pass under the bridge when the central section is raised to its full height. Now Oceano and Bezos have approached the council about temporarily dismantling the bridge at their cost.

You would think the ship builder would have planned on this from the get-go. It can't be a surprise that the ship they're building is going to be too tall to pass under a bridge that's been there since 1927.

[Poiuyt]

6. That's what I was wondering too

You'd think the shipbuilders would take into consideration any obstacles to getting out of the harbor.

[Amishman]

10. They do, and often build to the limits of their access

There are absurd pictures of yachts passing through with inches to spare.

My guess is either someone goofed, or they realized it was easier to get permission after the boat was already built

[Poiuyt]

12. It's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission

Though it looks like all parties agreed as to what to do

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

9. My apologies, I didn't click on the link.

Thanks for the info, Bezos has a bad rep here in the U.S. when it comes to getting communities to foot the costs where Amazon plants are built. And no, I don't like Bezos nor will I use Amazon.

[Demovictory9]

2. Your boat is too big if.bridges have to be dismantled

[Sneederbunk]

4. Officially protected? Not much.

Defied the Luftwaffe but not Bezos.

[luv2fly]

5. Seems like Bezos gets a pass on this

It's the shipbuilders fault.

[dchill]

7. Much ado about not very much...

"...with proper preparation, the middle section of the bridge will be removed for just one day."

Not demolished, temporarily removed. For one day.

Bezos has the money.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. With a week either side

The municipality is still working out exactly when and how the bridge will be dismantled. "As the plans look now, the preparation will take about a week. There are a lot of cables on De Hef, and as soon as you remove the first one, it no longer works. After that week, we remove the middle part, and with a bit of luck, we will have it back a day later. After that it will take another week to put everything back in place," Walravens explained to Rijnmond.

https://nltimes.nl/2022/02/02/rotterdam-bridge-taken-apart-let-jeff-bezos-pleasure-yacht

[Jerry2144]

8. Definitely a sign

That his personal and corporate tax rates are too low, just like the pay for his warehouse workers.

[NightWatcher]

13. Why not dismantle the fucking yacht and put it back together at the coast?