It does not help that many people dislike this guy. I say dismantle his yacht. I am sure he knew this ahead of time, he is not like the guy who built a boat in his basement and cant get it out. Here is the story:

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — A plan to temporarily dismantle a recently restored historic bridge in the heart of Dutch port city Rotterdam so that a huge yacht, reportedly being built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, can get to the North Sea is unlikely to be plain sailing.

Reports this week that the city had already agreed to take apart the Koningshaven Bridge, known locally as De Hef, sparked anger with one Facebook event set up calling for people to pelt the multimillion-dollar yacht with rotten eggs.

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However, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told The Associated Press on Friday that while a request has been submitted by a shipbuilder for the bridge to temporarily be taken apart over the summer, no permit has yet been sought or granted.

“I think it’s easy to understand why it’s so controversial because this is a very beautiful, recently restored old bridge,” said Rotterdam resident Lizette Touber. “It really is our heritage. And I think that if the rich can pay for it to be opened, which normally nobody else could do, then you get controversy.”

In a written statement, Aboutaleb, who is on a visit to Colombia, said that once a request for a permit is submitted it will be assessed based on factors including economic impact, environmental nuisance and possible risks to the “monumental structure” of the bridge.

“When the permit has been applied for, the municipality can make a decision about this, details can be further elaborated and a plan can be made in the event of a positive decision,” the statement said.

The municipality declined to comment on who owns the yacht in question or identify the shipbuilder. An email sent to Amazon seeking comment went unanswered.

The current Hef railway bridge was opened for trains to cross the Maas River in 1927 and taken out of service in 1993 when it was replaced by a tunnel. Public protests spared it from demolition and it eventually underwent a three-year renovation that ended in 2017. The middle section of the bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass underneath, but apparently not high enough for the new yacht’s masts.

Ton Wesselink, chairman of a Rotterdam historical society, feared that a decision to allow one yacht through the bridge could set a precedent for others.

“The thing we don’t want is that this yacht issue will open the possibility for shipbuilders to use it the same way,” he said in an email to AP.

But there were voices of support for the proposal.

“I think it’s fine. Let Bezos pay a high price. It creates work. I only see upsides,” said Rotterdam resident Ria van den Vousten.

“If it is paid for and everybody makes some money, don’t complain. Don’t talk, but act, as we say in Rotterdam,” she added.

LINK: https://wgntv.com/news/histori...edly-for-jeff-bezos/

No, I vote open the bridge.

Bridges get opened up and put together. That's why we have engineers.

The yacht builder is a company doing business in Rotterdam. They are a local business, and presumptively, this is not their first yacht.

The city benefits from a) the yacht builder being located in Rotterdam, b) the numerous jobs created by the yacht builder, c) the substantial tax revenue generated for the city by Bezos building this particular yacht at this particular port.

Additionally, when they open up the bridge, the city further benefits from a) the numerous jobs created by an engineering firm hired to open up the bridge, b) the associated tax revenue created by the project, and c) a bunch of city revenue created by inspections and permits and stuff.

The city will benefit in the millions, if not the tens of millions of dollars. Basically, they are getting a large public works project fully funded by a private individual.

The bridge is historic, sure. It will still be historic when they put it back together. The fact that it was opened up to move a big ass yacht, and put back together, will add to that history.

The remarkable part of this story, and some of the reactions to it, imply that this wasn't sorted out before they laid the first piece of that yacht in the yard.

All of what Aeteocles wrote, plus it's an opportunity to perhaps work some additional improvements into the bridge in the process.

honestly I was more disturbed by Ross Perot blowing up a Bermuda reef to get his yacht into a harbor.

Reefs are not easily replaced.

from 1992...
https://www.latimes.com/archiv...6-mn-1072-story.html

This is a nothing burger

Well, now we know why he's raising the Prime fee to $139 a year

Open it, if you're going to allow a ship builder in the city, on the other side of that bridge to employ people to build big ships then you need to let them get the product out.

If it was Sheik Houzz bin Phartns 5th mega Yacht would it be a story?

It’s not like the bridge is some sort of religious pilgrimage site that is being altered or desecrated. Is the anger and emotion some are showing over there warranted? So people are hoping to organize a group to throw rotten eggs at the ship. Will fuckbook take down that post and ban them? That isn’t creating community. If we ban the truckers in the US why give the butthurt egg brigade a pass?

It seems to me like an opportunity for those who already don’t like Bezos to vent over their preexisting anger towards the man. I don’t particularly care for Bezos but cmon it is a bridge. The bridge was renovated in 2017. As long as they make Bezos cover all costs and ahem build it back better or at least as good as it is right now what is the big deal?

Are there no Chinese yacht builders?

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
Are there no Chinese yacht builders?

No good ones; “Jeff knows Chinesium”

I mean, how much of the mast doesn't clear? Couldn't they:

Cut the part that doesn't fit and reattach it later? Would this not be much quicker and simpler?

weight (or flood) parts of the yacht to make it ride low enough to pass?

As fun as it is to hate on Jeff, it seems like the right answer is to figure a way to safely allow the shipbuilder to get their product out.

I can totally see requiring a *lot* of insurance, requiring the bridge be put back as well or better than before it was disturbed, etc.

If that makes it too expensive, the shipbuilder may figure out a way to get the yacht out without masts and install the masts after the ship is clear of the bridge.

Whatever, just figure out a way to solve the problem without negative impact to the bridge and drive on. I’m sure there will be something else for which we can hate on Bezos.

Bezos needs to work on his image. Warren Buffet does not have these problems because he is humble and self effacing. Taking the bridge apart will surely interfere with shipping and smaller boaters. Bezos does not seem to have class.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Bezos needs to work on his image. Warren Buffet does not have these problems because he is humble and self effacing. Taking the bridge apart will surely interfere with shipping and smaller boaters. Bezos does not seem to have class.

Never spent any time with the ultra-wealthy, huh?

I thought modern sailing yachts, etc. had metal masts that could be lowered(?). Design the ship to pass under the bridges anticipated in its voyages.

I think Bezos being involved is a bit of a red herring. There's obviously a shipyard on the upstream side of the bridge that builds yachts. If they can't take to bridge apart, it essentially means they're top ended as to the size of the ships they can build. Would the controversy be any different if this were any other type of commercial ship?

The locals probably want the jobs and revenue the shipyard generates, so maybe they need to play ball occasionally. I will also point out that, as per the article, they utility of the bridge has been replaced by a tunnel, so the bridge is now essentially decorative.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
No, I vote open the bridge.

Bridges get opened up and put together. That's why we have engineers.

The yacht builder is a company doing business in Rotterdam. They are a local business, and presumptively, this is not their first yacht.

The city benefits from a) the yacht builder being located in Rotterdam, b) the numerous jobs created by the yacht builder, c) the substantial tax revenue generated for the city by Bezos building this particular yacht at this particular port.

Additionally, when they open up the bridge, the city further benefits from a) the numerous jobs created by an engineering firm hired to open up the bridge, b) the associated tax revenue created by the project, and c) a bunch of city revenue created by inspections and permits and stuff.

The city will benefit in the millions, if not the tens of millions of dollars. Basically, they are getting a large public works project fully funded by a private individual.

The bridge is historic, sure. It will still be historic when they put it back together. The fact that it was opened up to move a big ass yacht, and put back together, will add to that history.

Plus after the Dutch pelt it with eggs, presumably they will have the job of cleaning off the yacht.

Some guys play hard to get, Jeff plays hard to like.

All I can say is that must be a helluva boat, because Rotterdam is a major port and Konigshaven Bridge has a center span that can be raised to allow ocean going ships to pass. If Bezos’ yacht cannot pass through, it’s bigger than a commercial ship?!?

"Oh, Good Lord. Didn't Anybody Here Build Ships In Bottles When They Were Boys?!" ---Captain Picard



Bonus: Special Guest Star Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan !

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:
I mean, how much of the mast doesn't clear? Couldn't they:

Cut the part that doesn't fit and reattach it later? Would this not be much quicker and simpler?

weight (or flood) parts of the yacht to make it ride low enough to pass?

Thinking outside the box. I like it. How about we just lower the whole boat? How deep is the water?