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World’s richest man Jeff Bezos names his new $500 million superyacht after a Maori word with special meaning
- Jeff Bezos’ superyacht is named Koru, a Maori word meaning ‘new beginnings’
- The Amazon founder’s new 127-meter yacht cost the billionaire $500 million
- Bezos initially asked the Dutch city to tear down a bridge so he could get through
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos named his $500 million superyacht after a Maori word, ‘Koru’, which translates to ‘new beginnings’.
The new name of Bezos’ controversial 127-meter Oceanco Y721 yacht was revealed this week when it began broadcasting on the vessel’s automatic identification system (AIS).
It will be the world’s tallest sailing yacht when delivered to the Amazon founder, surpassing the current largest ocean-going passenger ship, Sea Cloud.
The billionaire commissioned the construction of the superyacht, which made headlines last year when the $500 million vessel required the dismantling of an iconic Dutch bridge to reach the open sea.
Bezos said he would pay the Dutch city of Rotterdam to dismantle and then rebuild part of the historic 95-year-old bridge so the ship could pass through.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos named his $500 million superyacht. His 127m yacht now broadcasts under the name ‘Koru’, which translates to ‘new beginnings’ (Bezos pictured with Lauren Sanchez)
The name of Bezos’ 127-meter Oceanco Y721 yacht was revealed when it began broadcasting under the name ‘Koru’ on the ship’s automatic identification system (AIS).
The iconic Koningshavenbrug bridge in Rotterdam was scheduled to be dismantled to allow passage for Jeff Bezos’ newly built superyacht, and the Amazon billionaire picked up the bill, but after public outcry, the ship was modified so that it was no longer needed.
However, after a public outcry, the ship’s sail masts were set so as to avoid part of the Koningshaven Bridge, allowing the ship to sail without the bridge being toppled.
The ship, which is nearly twice the length of an Airbus A380, first hit the water in August.
Her triple masts reach a staggering 70 meters tall, making the sailing ship even taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The Amazon founder’s yacht will feature three ‘huge’ masts and three decks.
Koru’s design is based on another of Bezos’ ships, the Black Pearl.
The Black Pearl is the largest DynaRig sailing yacht in the world, with three 70 meter high carbon masts and was built in 2018.
Now it will undergo sea trials and then it will be handed over to the billionaire.
The yacht is expected to be completed and delivered in February and will then join a fleet of three 100+m sailing yachts.
The ship is rumored to cost Bezos $25 million a year to maintain.
Bezos’ ship is based on the company’s Black Pearl ship. The Black Pearl is the largest DynaRig sailboat in the world, with three 70 meter high carbon masts, built in 2018