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Historic Dutch Bridge To Be Dismantled So Jeff Bezos' Superyacht Can Pass Through (iflscience.com) 258

schwit1 shares a report from IFLScience: A historic bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is to be dismantled so that Jeff Bezos' superyacht can pass through. The Koningshaven Bridge, nicknamed "De Hef" by locals, has been a landmark in Rotterdam since 1878. Originally a swing bridge, it was converted into a lifting bridge after several ships got stuck in the narrow passage, and a collision involving the German ship Kandelfels in 1918. Having been damaged in the bombing of Rotterdam, it was one of the first monuments to be restored in the city shortly afterward. Now, it is to be dismantled to let the Amazon founder's 127-meter (417-foot) long luxury sailing yacht -- the Y721 -- to reach the ocean. The yacht will be the largest vessel of its kind in the world, and will be unable to make it under De Hef when it is completed by the ship-making firm Oceanco. Despite promises that the bridge would not be dismantled again following renovations in 2014-2017, the middle section of the bridge will be temporarily removed to let the billionaire's boat out. A spokesperson for the mayor's office said "It's the only route to the sea." They noted that the yacht created jobs during its construction and that the bridge would be restored (once again) after Bezos' vessel passes.

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