After dispute over bridge passage: Jeff Bezos' mega yacht "Y721" secretly towed out of the shipyard

The dispute made headlines around the world: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is having a mega yacht built in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, but its masts will be too high to pass the historic Koningshaven Bridge in the city centre. The shipyard and owner wanted to have the centre section of the bridge temporarily dismantled as a result, but incurred the wrath of the people of Rotterdam. The three-masted schooner with the project name "Y721" was now quietly and secretly towed out of the shipyard at dawn without its masts.

Hanco Bol, who runs the Facebook page "Dutch Yachting", accompanied the transport by car in the middle of the night. The yacht expert told Der Spiegel that preparations for the transport had begun at one o'clock in the morning and that it had then started at three o'clock. After around three hours, the yacht arrived at the Greenport shipyard in the west of Rotterdam. The ship is now apparently being completed there and the masts installed. Bol recorded the first voyage of the "Y721" in a video:

Jeff Bezos' yacht on its way through the Rotterdam canals

According to Hanco Bol, the route of the transport was unusual. Presumably they wanted to avoid pictures of the unfinished yacht under the Koningshaven Bridge and therefore chose the time at night without the press and public. "I think that was intentional," he told Der Spiegel. "When I was standing on one of the bridges, they pointed a searchlight at me, so it wasn't easy for me to take photos."

Originally, it was said that only the Oceanco shipyard could erect the masts. Now this work is being carried out at Greenport, which significantly increases the workload. According to Der Spiegel, it is likely to be several months before the yacht is completed. However, according to consistent reports, the first of the three masts is already on its way to the shipyard.

The passage of the ship had repeatedly made headlines in recent months. The Oceanco shipyard wanted to apply for permission to partially dismantle the bridge, known as "De Hef" because of its H-shape. As a result, a broad protest front had formed, with threats of egg throwing and similar actions. The bridge is a listed monument and has a high symbolic value for the city because it was the first to be rebuilt after its destruction in the Second World War.

"Y721" is considered to be the world's second largest yacht in the future and is expected to cost between 250 and 400 million euros. According to the NZZ, two escort ships will be needed when the three-masted schooner sets sail. In addition to the dark hull and white superstructure, the future bowsprit in particular will create a striking appearance. The final name has not yet been announced, nor has the ownership of Jeff Bezos, the second richest man in the world, been officially confirmed. Further information about the mega yacht can be found here >>

The currently still largest yacht in the world, the "A", is currently detained by the authorities in Trieste, Italy, due to the war in Ukraine. She is said to belong to the Russian oligarch Andrei Igorevich Melnichenko. Depending on whether the "A" is seen as a sailing or motor yacht, it would be pushed into second place by the new build from Rotterdam.