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The best pictures of Koru

In 2022, the 125.8-metre sailing yacht Koru made history when she hit the water at Oceanco ’s Alblasserdam facilities. Now successfully delivered, she is the flagship of the Oceanco fleet and the largest Dutch-built yacht in the world. 

BOAT rounds up the best pictures of the three-masted sailing yacht owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos...

Koru unable to dock in Florida

Koru arrived at Port Everglades, Florida in November 2023 following a months-long Mediterranean cruise that included stopovers in Dubrovnik, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Calabria (according to BOATPro ). The sailing yacht was too large to anchor in the nearby marina, which has a maximum capacity of 121.9 metres. She was photographed instead docking next to a 297-metre cruise ship named Rhapsody of the Seas .

Koru's helicopter landing

Last summer, Koru was spotted in the French Riveria alongside her 75-metre support vessel Abeona . Delivered by Damen Yachting two months before the mothership, Abeona is equipped with a helipad and hangar for a D14 value helicopter– which is clearly being put to good use. Accommodation is for up to 45 people onboard Bezos' support vessel, including crew, guests and other specialist staff.

Koru in Portofino

Koru and Abeona also travelled to Portofino in the summer of 2023, with both Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez sighted enjoying lunch and taking photographs while on board. 

Koru's figurehead

Throughout construction, it was difficult to get a glimpse of the details on board Koru ; but once handed over, all of her traditional features could be admired up close. As well as the intricate gold paintwork and scarlet bootstripe, the yacht also features an elaborate figurehead made of polished wood. The woman is wearing a necklace with a symbol in the pendant, which some have speculated could be the Māori symbol meaning "koru".

Koru in front of Palma Cathedral

After delivery, the schooner spent some time enjoying the waters of Mallorca. The Balearic hotspot is a magnet for superyachts during the Mediterranean season, but Koru had the quiet anchorage largely to herself after leaving the Oceanco shipyard. Her classic lines could be appreciated in all of their glory against the backdrop of Palma Cathedral. 

Koru delivered to Mallorca

In April 2023. Koru was delivered and undertook her maiden voyage from the Netherlands to Gibraltar. She then headed onwards to Palma, giving the world a first glimpse of her cascading aft decks, mighty masts and elaborate aft deck pool arrangement. She was flying solo in Mallorca, but was later joined by support vessel Abeona .

Koru in Gibraltar

Following her successful sea trials in Rotterdam, Koru embarked on journey to Palma, Mallorca that involved an overnight anchorage in Gibraltar. The sailing yacht was sighted passing through the Strait of Gibraltar a second time on her cross-continental journey from the Mediterranean to the USA in November 2023.

Koru on sea trials

Koru was spotted departing from Rotterdam in the early morning light of February 13 to begin sea trials. The 125.8-metre Oceanco set sail across the North Sea to put her performance to the test after hitting the water for the first time in August 2022. The traditional three-masted schooner yacht has a midnight blue hull, traditional canoe stern and the unique addition of a chair at the very tip of the bowsprit. Her name represents the idea of life’s perpetual movement and is a Māori word closely related to that of an unfurling leaf.

Koru with her masts stepped

The yacht was seen for the first time in her final form on the dock in the Port of Rotterdam. Her trio of masts was stepped here to avoid having to dismantle any bridges to allow the Oceanco giant yacht to pass under. The maximum height of the bridge is 70 metres; the masts on Koru are thought to measure between 65 and 85 metres. The first images of Koru indicate the yacht will have plenty of features for her owner to enjoy, including an aft deck pool and a large, uncluttered sundeck.

Koru launched

The 125.8-metre yacht was moved from Oceanco’s primary facilities at the crack of dawn to enter the final stages of construction. The hull was transported via Dordrecht and Spijkenisse (Oude Maas), and her masts were transported separately via the slightly shorter Rotterdam Centre (Nieuwe Maas).

Koru moves through the Dutch canals

Before she hit the water, the hull of Koru was loaded onto a transport vessel and she made the journey through the Dutch canals for further construction work. The yacht was captured against the backdrop of the quaint Dutch countryside, revealing her classic-looking lines and long rows of windows.

Koru from a bird's eye view

As she was wheeled out of the shed into the light of day, yacht-spotters were able to get their first proper aerial shot of the yacht, without her masts. 

Koru rolls out of the shed

When Oceanco completed the work on the hull, the yacht was rolled out of the shed to reveal a crisp navy hull and white superstructure. Koru ’s exterior design immediately drew a comparison to Lürssen’s 93-metre sailing yacht Eos , which was designed by US-based Langan Design . This was the world’s first sighting of the already iconic superyacht.

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Jeff Bezos’ Giant Yacht Is Apparently Too Big to Anchor Near Others in Florida

The superyacht, called Koru, arrived in Port Everglades in Florida on Nov. 22, and has been docked near a more-than 610-foot-long oil tanker named Magnolia State.

By Lola Fadulu

First, Jeff Bezos’ new megayacht was too big to pass under a bridge in the Netherlands. Now, the massive vessel’s size — it’s more than 400 feet long — has played a role in preventing it from keeping company with other private yachts in Port Everglades, Fla., where it is anchored.

Instead, the megayacht, named Koru, is hanging with huge oil tankers and general container ships. The yacht is docked there because of its size and also because of what berths were available in the seaport, according to a spokeswoman for Port Everglades.

Koru is a sailing yacht, unlike the much bigger diesel-powered boats popular with other billionaires. It is the largest sailing yacht in the world, according to Oceanco , the Dutch company that finished building the boat earlier this year.

The deck space of the three-masted schooner has three Jacuzzis and a swimming pool. The inside has a “timeless, contemporary style,” according to Oceanco, with natural wood tones, warm neutrals, and patterned textiles. It also includes a mermaid on the bow that appears to resemble Mr. Bezos’ partner, Lauren Sánchez.

Koru, which Bloomberg estimated cost about $500 million to build, arrived to the Florida port on Nov. 22 after departing from Gibraltar earlier this month, according to Marine Traffic , a real-time maritime data platform.

It was unclear why exactly Mr. Bezos docked his yacht there, but earlier this month he said that he would be moving back to Miami to be closer to his parents and to Ms. Sánchez.

Mr. Bezos had since 1994 lived in Seattle , where he started Amazon from his garage. He has already purchased two mansions in South Florida, one for $68 million and another for $79 million, according to Bloomberg News .

Bloomberg estimated his net worth to be $171 billion.

Port Everglades charges yachts larger than 400 feet at least $309.50 per 24 hours. Ships that have been closest to Koru include a more-than 610-foot-long oil tanker named Magnolia State .

Koru is Maori for “coil” or “loop” and has come to symbolize new life, growth, and peace in traditional Maori art.

Mr. Bezos’ journey with his new yacht started off rocky . Last year, city officials in Rotterdam, the Dutch city, initially agreed to dismantle De Hef, a 95-year-old bridge, so that Koru could pass through it from the nearby city where it had been built. The dismantling process would have taken more than a day, and putting it back together would have too. But after uproar from the community — including calls to throw eggs at the boat as it would have passed — Oceanco decided against it and the yacht was towed to a different location to have its masts attached.

Jack Begg contributed research.

Lola Fadulu is a general assignment reporter on the Metro desk of The Times. She was part of a team that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for coverage of New York City’s deadliest fire in decades. More about Lola Fadulu

Jeff Bezos' multi-million dollar yacht, Koru, docks at Port Everglades

According to boat international, the koru is the world’s largest sailing yacht, and reportedly cost an estimated $500 million to build, by monica galarza • published november 28, 2023 • updated on november 29, 2023 at 12:37 pm.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' massive yacht has officially dropped anchor in Port Everglades.

Video captured by NBC6 shows the enormous 417-foot yacht docked in Port Everglades Tuesday weeks after the billionaire announced he was moving back to the Sunshine State, after spending nearly three decades in Seattle.

📺 24/7 South Florida news stream: Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

According to Boat International , the Koru is the world’s largest sailing yacht, and reportedly cost an estimated $500 million to build.

Bezos stepped down as the CEO of Amazon almost three years ago and said in a social media post that operations for his rocket company, Blue Origin, are “increasingly shifting” to Cape Canaveral, which is about 200 miles north of Miami.

The Hurricane season is on. Our meteorologists are ready. Sign up for the NBC 6 Weather newsletter to get the latest forecast in your inbox.

Coincidentally, on Tuesday, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed to NBC6 that the company is searching for 50,000 square feet of leased office space in the Miami area as part of its organic growth over the past few years in the region.

Amazon currently has more than 400 corporate and tech employees assigned to our existing serviced office locations in the Miami area, but this office space would first base location in the city.

In October, Bloomberg News reported that Bezos had purchased a mansion in the area known as “Billionaire Bunker” for $79 million, after buying a neighboring estate for $68 million.

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And in an Instagram post, the 59-year-old announced plans to return to Miami — where he spent his high school years — to be closer to his parents and his partner, Lauren Sánchez.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos)

Seattle has been Bezos' home since 1994 when he started Amazon out of his garage.

The Instagram post includes a brief video tour led by Bezos of Amazon's first office, with his father behind the camera.

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Jeff Bezos’s $500 Million Megayacht Was Spotted Undergoing Test Trials in the North Sea

The amazon founder's y721 koru from oceanco has finally hit the high seas., louisa ballhaus, louisa ballhaus's most recent stories.

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Jeff Bezos has a new toy in the works, and it looks like he’s making sure it’ll be ready for summertime travels.

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Bezos ran into some trouble earlier this year when it came out that the Koningshaven Bridge in the Netherlands might have to be dismantled to let Y721 Koru pass through, as the megayacht’s 229-foot masts exceeded the bridge’s 131-foot clearance. City officials briefly agreed to disassemble the bridge but then decided against it in the face of public backlash, according to The New York Times. That negative reaction included a threat from residents to show up and pelt rotten eggs at the $500 million behemoth.

Oceanco, the company that built Y721 Koru, ultimately decided against applying for the permit that would be required for dismantling Koningshaven Bridge, and the boat was instead quietly towed to another shipyard without its mast.

Bezos’s completed yacht will be accompanied by a 246-foot-long “shadow yacht” called YS7512, Damen Yacht’s largest-ever support vessel. It will fit 45 people onboard, feature a helicopter hangar and storage for Jet Skis and other water toys and is reportedly called Abeona , according to Boat International .

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Sailing yacht KORU: What we know so far about Jeff Bezos’ 127 meter yacht

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By Nina Done   15 December 2022

Recent footage showcasing the vast proportions of the Amazon founder’s new 127m (417ft) Oceanco sailing yacht KORU , known throughout her build as Project Y721, has provided some valuable insight into one of the yachting industry’s best-kept secrets.

The megayacht’s specifications and amenities had been kept completely under wraps until she was forced to move from the Dutch yard’s primary facilities in Alblasserdam to get her masts fitted elsewhere in order to avoid dismantling the Koningshaven Bridge after huge public backlash. 

In August, the yacht was spotted in the Port of Rotterdam after her trio of masts had been successfully stepped, with pictures barely doing justice to the monolithic proportions of the sailing spars, reportedly up to 70-80 meters tall.

World yacht rankings

KORU will replace Oceanco’s BLACK PEARL for second place in the world's largest sailing yacht rankings behind Nobiskrug's 143m (469ft) sailing yacht A .

Oceanco's newest yacht is understood to have an internal volume of 3,300 GT and will undoubtedly offer a wealth of luxurious accommodation and amenities. Although we have scant information about the yacht's features, we do know that she will have an aft dip pool along with a further Jacuzzi on her sundeck and variety of alfresco social spaces. She also has a crow's nest attached to her central mast, offering lofty panoramic views for her more adventurous guests.

From the pictures we can see KORU also benefits from full-length windows across her superstructure allowing plenty of light to infuse her interiors. 

Design inspiration

Built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure with teak decking, she reportedly takes her design cues from the 93-meter Lürssen sailing yacht EOS , perhaps inspired by the entrepreneur’s visits to this yacht in previous years. 

Showcasing a midnight-blue hull with a distinctive red stripe running along her waterline, KORU’s exterior styling mirrors this traditional schooner style, with an elongated bowsprite and canoe stern. Another similar style yacht is the 90m (295ft) Royal Huisman sailing yacht ATHENA . 

Kinetic energy technology

As expected from a tech entrepreneur, known for pushing boundaries and driving innovation, sailing yacht KORU will be trialing a prototype for a new kinetic energy recovery system. This is based on a conversion of wave induced motion, heave, pitch and roll into electric energy, with initial tests showing early promise. 

With a nod to her green credentials, this will provide an additional power source for the yacht allowing for more sustainable cruising.

Tenders and toys

Access to sailing yacht KORU will be via folding passerelles, discreetly hidden in the yacht's hull on either side. Rescue and work tender launches will likely take place further forward, as per regulations. Recent pictures show a large hatch opening in her lower deck aft, which may contain further tenders and toys, but may also double as a beach club. 

Sailing yacht KORU comes complete with a support vessel built by Damen Yachts, reportedly known as 75 meter (247ft) yacht WINGMAN .

Once delivered, it is understood that she will act as an official support boat for the sailing yacht , carrying the larger toys, including a submarine for thrilling excursions beneath the waves, plus a helicopter and landing pad. She is also believed to play host to an array of PWCs, with rumors of a speed boat and luxury car adding to the fleet, as well as providing accommodation for additional crew and staff.

When is sailing yacht KORU expected to be delivered?

From here she will undertake the all-important rounds of sea trials before being delivered to her owner sometime in the new year. It is understood that the yacht will be officially christened KORU upon delivery, and will operate under the Cayman Islands' flag. It is not believed that superyacht KORU will be available to charter. 

If you'd like to learn more about chartering a yacht, please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker . Alternatively, view all superyachts available for charter .

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63m Holland Jachtbouw 2010 / 2023

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Jeff Bezos' $500 million megayacht sets sail for its first sea trials — watch video of the 417-foot vessel hitting open water

• Jeff Bezos' new $500 million megayacht hit the open water this week to undergo tests.
• Sea trials are usually one of the last phases of construction, bringing the yacht one step closer to full sail.
• The yacht previously caused uproar for nearly requiring that a historic bridge be dismantled for it to pass.

After drawing the ire of locals for nearly requiring the dismantling of a historic bridge, Jeff Bezos' new megayacht has hit the open water. 

The vessel, estimated to cost $500 million, underwent its first day of sea trials in Europe this week, according to yacht fan club Dutch Yachting, which posted a video of the yacht on Monday. Sea trials consist of several tests and are usually one of the last phases of construction, meaning the Amazon founder's yacht is one step closer to full sail.

The boat's sea trials come after a turbulent year for the megayacht, which was built in the Netherlands. Last year, the Dutch company building it, Oceanco, requested that a historic bridge in Rotterdam be dismantled for the yacht to pass because the vessel's three masts were too tall to pass under the bridge, which has a 131-foot clearance.

The yacht, called Koru, measures 417 feet long and is expected to be the biggest sailing yacht in the world once finished.

The bridge in question was the Koningshaven Bridge, colloquially known as "De Hef," which is nearly 100 years old. After it was renovated in 2017, the city vowed not to take it apart again, according to Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond .

The ask didn't go over well. It caused so much public outcry, in fact, that more than 1,000 residents threatened to throw eggs at the yacht if the dismantling came to fruition. Oceanco later withdrew its request to dismantle the bridge , and the yacht was quietly towed under cover of night to another shipyard.

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During that voyage, the yacht was towed without its masts, which would be installed later, and it avoided going through the city center and past the Koningshaven Bridge, according to German magazine Der Spiegel .

Watch the latest video of Bezos' yacht here: 

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Bezos’ too-tall $500 million superyacht finally at sea

Jeff Bezos should have his new superyacht in time for the summer.

The 417-foot Koru left a shipyard in the Netherlands last week and anchored Wednesday off the coast of Spain near Mallorca, where it’s undergoing tests.  

The Koru’s excursion is part of the sea trials where an owner puts the boat through its paces to make sure everything is working properly, according to a person familiar with its travels, who requested anonymity discussing private matters. It could return to the shipyard for final tweaks before being delivered.

The three-masted superyacht is estimated to have cost the Amazon founder more than $500 million. Bezos, 59, is the world’s third-richest person with a fortune of $126.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Related More on the Maritime Industry

• Yacht reportedly built for Jeff Bezos too big for Dutch bridge (February 2022)
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• Rotterdam will not dismantle bridge to allow Bezos’ superyacht through (July 2022)

Previously known as Y721, the ship is now registered as Koru and is flying under a Cayman Islands flag. It’s the largest sailing yacht afloat, according to Boat International, and one of the biggest to be built by Alblasserdam, Netherlands-based Oceanco.

An Amazon spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The superyacht’s size has caused a number of headaches for Bezos and its builders. The height of its masts was originally going to force the city of Rotterdam to dismantle a historic steel bridge, De Hef, for the boat to be able to make it to the ocean. 

City officials initially agreed to temporarily take apart the bridge’s central section, but Oceanco ended up retracting the request amid public outcry. The shipbuilder eventually towed the vessel out to sea without its masts. 

The size of the sails also meant that the yacht couldn’t have a helipad on board. Instead, Bezos and his helicopter pilot partner Lauren Sanchez will rely on a support boat, which is currently crossing the Atlantic with a destination of Gibraltar, according to vessel-tracking data.

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Soak Up the Sun During Outing on Rumored $500M Yacht

The Amazon founder and the Emmy-award-winning journalist were photographed sailing together in Spain

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are enjoying yacht life together.

The Amazon founder, 59, and the Emmy-award-winning journalist and helicopter pilot, 53, were photographed in Spain on Monday, sailing around Mallorca aboard his rumored $500 million yacht .

Bezos sported a pair of light blue swim shorts and a jacket while Sánchez wore a a pink bikini and a cover-up.

The luxury 417-foot-long yacht , named Koru, is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world, featuring three towering masts , several decks (including one with a pool), and a supporting 250-foot-long yacht with a helipad, according to Boat International.

Although Oceanco, a Netherlands-based custom yacht builder has refused to confirm the owner of the vessel, it was reportedly due to be completed and delivered to Bezos earlier this year, per the outlet — and it was spotted at sea for the first time in March, after leaving the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, in February.

Bezos reportedly first began eyeing the yacht in May 2021 , when it was known as Project 271.

The vessel previously made headlines last year when it was reported that the city of Rotterdam had agreed to temporarily dismantle part of the historic Koningshaven Bridge in order to accommodate the yacht, a city spokeswoman told The Washington Post at the time. (Bezos purchased the Post in 2013, but newspaper staff has said they have editorial independence .)

However, following an uproar, city officials reversed their decision .

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

This is just the latest outing for Bezos and Sánchez, who have been dating since 2019. Earlier this month, the pair were spotted together at the F1 Miami Grand Prix and they also attended Coachella together in April. At the music festival they were seen dancing and being affectionate with one another during Bad Bunny 's set.

RELATED VIDEO: Lauren Sánchez Shares Sweet Selfies with Partner Jeff Bezos for Valentine's Day 2023: 'My Heart Is Full'

Earlier this year, Sánchez paid tribute to her partner on Valentine's Day with a series of sweet selfies and a special message on Instagram.

"My heart is full ❤️🤍," the award-winning journalist said in the caption of her post.

Sánchez also shared a special birthday message for the billionaire in January, in which she thanked him "for being the most loving and supportive partner."

"Happy birthday to the man of my dreams, who lights up my world with his laughter and kind heart. You have shown me that no great love is not bravely fought for," Sánchez wrote in the caption.

"I am so grateful for the memories we have made and the adventures yet to come," she added. "Here's to many more birthdays filled with love and laughter."

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Inside jeff bezos and lauren sanchez’s hot yacht summer with kim kardashian, leo & more.

If Jeff Bezos’ and Lauren Sánchez’ hot yacht summer were a movie, it would be a mashup of “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Eat Pray Love” and “The Perfect Storm” — and the season’s not over yet.

The 60-year-old billionaire and his fiancée, 54, are sailing the Mediterranean again this summer on Bezos’ $485 million yacht Koru , which features a sultry figurehead on the prow that looks an awful lot like Sánchez.

They’ve cruised to Greece, Italy and Spain, with a pit stop Wednesday on the secluded island of Menorca in the Balearics, where they took refuge — along with some other expensive yachts — from a low-pressure storm called Dana.

Bezos and Sánchez have been accompanied on the 417-ft Koru by their support yacht, Abeona , which holds their water toys and a fleet of A-list guests who have included Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio and his 25-year-old Italian supermodel girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, and others.

“They’re the flavor of the month in the Med,” said a longtime entertainment exec just back from a month in the South of France.

“For a while it was the Russians, and way back in the day it was Ari [Onassis] and Maria [Callas] on the [yacht] Christina. But the Russians like Roman Abramovich are pretty much gone now. There’s always a new wave,” the exec said. “[Sánchez] seems tacky but I’ve heard she’s very nice and Bezos adores her. Is she ever going to look like Babe Paley? Not in this lifetime.”

The exec also pointed out that the Koru is more than 100 feet longer than Barry Diller’s yacht, which measures just over 300 feet — but not as big as David Geffen’s 453-foot vessel — saying billionaires often have “aquatic penis envy.”

The world’s second-richest couple channeled their inner Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Rome on Tuesday when they shared a passionate kiss in front of the famed Trevi Fountain, seemingly oblivious to the hordes of tourists.

Bezos, in a fitted golf shirt, navy pants and boating shoes, and Sánchez, in a red halter minidress and peep-toe heels, also joined the crowd in the time-honored tradition of tossing money into the fountain with their right hands.

Oh, to know what they wished for.

Later they held hands and walked down cobblestone streets to their dinner destination, Pierluigi, where photographers snapped them dining on white wine, salad and bread at a table containing a singular red rose.

The couple took a bit of a solemn detour on land on Thursday when they swung by the Vatican for a visit with 87-year-old Pope Francis.

“He reminded us not to take life too seriously, a simple yet powerful reminder to keep lightness in our hearts,” Sanchez wrote on social media.

Bezos and Sánchez began their summer in June island-hopping in Greece with a rare appearance by Bezos’ 19-year-old son Preston, who Bezos shares with his ex-wife Mackenzie Scott.

Kim Kardashian then joined them, zipping around the Med on jetskis . At one point Kardashian and an unidentified blonde rode her jetski as they took selfies.

The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” alum has been tight with Sánchez and Bezos for a couple of years,  going on a double date  in 2022 and  attending a Beyoncé concert  in 2023.

In September 2023, the trio  had dinner together in New York City , joined by Nicky Hilton.

The “Kardashians” star made it clear that Sánchez is  part of her inner circle  when she celebrated her birthday in a Season 5 episode.

Meanwhile, Bezos and Sánchez were also spotted on their own in Greece on the island of Hydra, walking hand-in-hand on the seafront. They popped up next on Mykonos and from there it was on to Pserimos, famed for its beaches.

July saw them jet to Sun Valley, Idaho, for the town’s namesake financial conference attended by billionaires.

Last weekend, the pair pulled up on the island of Sardinia with Perry, Bloom, DiCaprio and Ceretti. The celebs came to shore on one of Bezos’ smaller boats for lunch at a high-end beach resort before heading back to Koru.

Bloom and Perry — who started  their own month-long vacation in France  — also vacationed with Bezos and Sánchez  around this time last year. In August 2023, the foursome was spotted walking around Dubrovnik, Croatia, with Usher.

DiCaprio and Bezos have  been “really close friends” for years,  with a source previously telling Page Six they often vacation together and find “common ground in the  fight against climate change  and their work in environmental activism.”

Koru ranks as the planet’s thirty-second largest yacht and costs about $25 million to operate annually. The vessel can accommodate 18 guests and requires a crew of 40 sailors to manage its amenities.

Its three huge, 229-foot masts power it to 20 knots. It’s also the biggest billionaire’s yacht which can move under sail power alone.

Bezos and Sánchez recently relocated from Seattle to Indian Creek Island in Miami, where Bezos bought three mansions for about $237 million — surely a nice home if you’ve got to be on land.

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Jeff Bezos’s $500m yacht stealthily towed out of Dutch shipyard after bridge dismantling controversy

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Jeff Bezos ’s yacht was quietly towed out of a Dutch shipyard this week, German magazine Der Spiegel reports . The ship previously attracted boatloads of controversy after its manufacturer asked the city of Rotterdam to dismantle a historic bridge to let it through.

The yachting firm, Oceanco, eventually withdrew the request, and hauled the Amazon billionaire’s 417-foot vessel to the Greenport shipyard early Tuesday morning, taking a more obscure route outside the city center that didn’t require passing under the bridge in question.

Hanco Bol, a local yachting enthusiast, spotted the transport in progress around 3am and posted a detailed video of the three-hour journey on YouTube.

He speculated that the alternate route was chosen “to keep the launch and transport under wraps”.

"We never saw a transport going that fast," he wrote in the caption of his YouTube video

The Independent has contacted Oceanco for comment.

The yacht, dubbed Y721 and reportedly worth $500m, may have left its original docking in Alblasserdam, Netherlands, but it leaves a checkered reputation behind.

The project came in for a storm of criticism when the shipbuilder asked Rotterdam in February to temporarily take apart the Koningshaven Bridge, a nearly 100-year-old local landmark, to allow the massive, three-mast vessel to pass underneath it.

“There’s a principle at stake,” Stefan Lewis, a former City Council member, told The New York Times , describing the outrage from Rotterdammers. “What can you buy if you have unlimited cash? Can you bend every rule? Can you take apart monuments?”

Locals even planned to egg the yacht as it sailed to its next port.

In July, the Dutch newspaper Trouw reported that Oceanco withdrew its request to dismantle the bridge

"As a result of the reports, shipyard employees feel threatened and the company fears vandalism," Trouw reported, according to public records it uncovered.

Mr Bezos has positioned himself as a leading climate philanthropist, and plans to give away $10bn through his Bezos Earth Fund, but he also lives an extremely high-carbon lifestyle.

The former Amazon CEO is one of the biggest landholders in the US .

Superyachts like the Y721 emit about 1,500 times more carbon than a typical family car per year.

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Bezos's maritime disappearing act: how a $500 million yacht goes dark.

How do you make a $500 million sailing yacht disappear? If you are Jeff Bezos , you turn off the ship's tracking system.

Bezos's 417-foot yacht Koru is no longer transmitting location data, with the last location ping noted on July 19 near Sardinia, Italy. The system that is no longer functioning is the automatic identification system (AIS), a standard feature on ships over a certain size.

An AIS data tracker sends and receives information about a ship's course and navigation. It improves at-sea safety by enabling vessels to share information with each other and with stations on shore. When turned on, the AIS data transmits a range of data such as the yacht's name, position, speed, heading and other points. It also receives nearby vessel information that is displayed on the navigation system, helping captains maintain safe distances and follow maritime travel regulations.

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When You Need A Support Ship For Your Yacht

Bezos's disappearing act extends to another ship. The mega-rich that operate yachts of this scale sometimes need a support ship . Bezos operates a 246-foot ship called Abeona that follows Koru from port to port. It offers extra space for crew members, a helipad and additional supplies that passengers and crew might require on their journeys. The ship is a yacht in its own right and carries many of the water toys that do not fit on the massive Koru sailing vessel.

Koru features an array of lavish comforts, including multiple decks, lounges, a swimming pool and a movie theater. It is the largest sailing yacht in the world, built by esteemed yacht builder Oceanco beginning in 2021 with delivery in April 2023. It offers Bezos and his frequent traveler partner and fiancée Lauren Sanchez a spacious gym and spa area along with opulent meeting areas and lounges.

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Billionaires Looking To Travel Anonymously

AIS trackers help captains and crew avoid collisions, giving them a chance to take evasive actions based on location and heading data. It integrates with most yacht navigation systems and highlights AIS data on charts so ship operators can make optimal navigation decisions. Emergency responders and rescue operators also rely on AIS tracking data to respond effectively to emergencies, so they can make the right course toward a ship that needs help.

In 2022, several Russian oligarch yacht owners turned off their AIS systems to avoid sanctions and scrutiny after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. In late 2022, Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and one of the richest people in the world, sold his private jet, with reports stating he did so out of frustration with people tracking his flights and sharing the journeys through social media.

Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, Inc. , frequently travels on his yacht. He is not under scrutiny but likely grew tired of the attention his massive yacht and support ship attract. Despite these efforts, a nearly 500-foot three-masted yacht is hard to miss. Many people on social media channels report the ship's locations as it travels around the world.

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This article Bezos's Maritime Disappearing Act: How A $500 Million Yacht Goes Dark originally appeared on Benzinga.com

© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Jeff Bezos’ superyacht Koru has moved away from the oil tankers and is now anchored near Larry Ellison’s former $400 million superyacht ‘The Rising Sun’.

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Costing Fiji an astronomical $172,000 per day in maintenance, Sulieman Kerimov’s $325 million megayacht Amadea has turned into a big headache for the island nation. Living the lives of an oligarch are the police officers who are staying onboard to guard the yacht.

Forget a private jet or a villa – The former Prime Minister of Qatar actually owns this $300 million megayacht – The 436 feet long vessel has one of the largest spa’s on a yacht, a pirate-themed underwater viewing room for the kids, and even a hairdressing saloon.

Worth more than Jeff Bezos’ Koru and Mark Zuckerberg’s Launchpad yachts combined, this is the most expensive superyacht in the world. Its fuel tank is so massive that it could fuel 4,344 Hummers.

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Forget seizing, the authorities do not even know where this sanctioned Russian billionaire has hidden his $300 million megayacht. One of the largest in the world the 460 ft vessel has 6 swimming pools and its location transponders have been switched off since March.

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Jeff Bezos' superyacht won't fit through a historic bridge. So the town is dismantling it.

A Dutch port city will dismantle a historic bridge to allow room for Jeff Bezos' superyacht to pass through this summer and locals aren't happy.

The Dutch port city of Rotterdam said it will temporarily break down the historic Koningshavenbrug Bridge because Bezos' 417 ft long yacht won't fit, Agence France-Presse  reported . 

Bezos’ 485 million, superyacht is being built by the Oceano shipyard in Alblasserdam, Netherlands and will pass through the port city. To make room for the yacht, the middle section of the huge steel bridge will be removed, Dutch News reported . Bezos will pay for the deconstruction of the bridge, according to the outlet.

The city's mayor's office told AFP that dismantling the bridge has created several jobs for the community and the bridge will quickly be rebuilt to its original form afterward.

"It's the only route to the sea," a mayoral spokesman told AFP.

The Koningshavenbrug bridge was built in 1878 and was reconstructed after being bombed by the Nazis in 1940 during World War II.

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Jeff Bezos $100 million donation: Jeff Bezos donates $100 million to the Obama Foundation to honor John Lewis

In 2017, after a major renovation to the bridge, the local council promised it would never dismantle the bridge again. The announcement the bridge will be taken apart once more, has angered residents, the BBC reported .

"Jobs are important, but there are limits with what you can and should do with our industrial heritage," said Ton Wesselink, local historian, told Dutch News.

The mayor's office argued the dismantling will be economically beneficial for the city and the bridge will be rebuilt to its original form.

Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda

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Jeff bezos and lauren sanchez host leonardo dicaprio and vittoria ceretti, katy perry and orlando bloom on $485m superyacht.

Jeff Bezos has plenty of space for his famous friends onboard his $485 million superyacht.

The 60-year-old billionaire was photographed soaking up the sun in Sardinia, Italy alongside fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio and model Vittoria Ceretti over the weekend.

The A-list group came to shore on one of Bezos’ smaller boats for lunch at a high-end beach resort before heading back to the massive vessel, named Koru.

The Amazon founder dressed comfortably for the meal, wearing blue shorts, a black collared shirt and sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Sanchez, 54, turned heads in a low-cut, lace coverup on top of a black bikini. The couple, who started dating in 2019, both went barefoot as they walked along the sand.

The “Revenant” actor, for his part, tried to stay under the radar in khaki shorts, a gray T-shirt and a tan baseball hat pulled over his face.

DiCaprio, 49, and Bezos have been “really close friends” for years, with a source previously telling Page Six they often vacation together and find “common ground in the  fight against climate change  and their work in environmental activism.”

The actor’s model girlfriend, whom he began dating last year, has also seemingly grown close to the couple.

The Italian beauty, 26, looked casually cool in a red-and-white animal print skirt with a simple white tank top. She accessorized with a colorful tote, statement sunglasses and strappy black sandals.

While most of the group covered up for the excursion, Bloom looked ready to take a dip in the water. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star showed off his abs in an open white shirt and orange swim trunks. He shielded himself from the sun with a green bucket hat and shades.

His fiancée, however, pulled out all the stops in a colorful, chevron print mini dress. The frock featured a fringe bandeau top and cut-outs at the torso.

The “Woman’s World” singer, 39, completed the glamorous look with matching pink sunglasses and a shell necklace.

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Bloom, 47, and Perry — who started their month-long vacation in France — also vacationed with Bezos and Sanchez around this time last year.

In August 2023, the foursome was spotted walking around Dubrovnik, Croatia, with Usher.

While it’s unclear exactly when the group linked up , Bezos and Sanchez have spent most of their summer traveling around Europe on his 417-foot megayacht — which accommodates 18 guests.

The lovebirds kicked off their summer adventures in Greece alongside Kim Kardashian  before traveling through the Mediterranean Sea and up to Italy.

While living on Bezos’ “super big boat,” Sanchez —  a certified helicopter pilot — has been “seen flying a helicopter on and off their support boat, where they keep all their toys . . . helicopters, speed boats and other water toys,” a source told Page Six.

The CEO began building the mammoth ship in 2018 and it was finally completed last summer. It is largely considered to be the tallest sailing yacht in the world, measuring 230ft tall.

The superyacht has three outdoor decks, two swimming pools, a cinema, several lounges and multiple business areas, according to  Luxuo .

Stylistically, it’s complete with a figurehead of the Norse goddess of love, fertility, gold and war — which bears an uncanny resemblance to Sanchez.

Along with the main ship, Bezos also owns a “smaller” $75 million yacht, Abeona, which shadows his bigger boat. 

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Lauren Sanchez Is Friends With the Pope Now

At this point, who isn’t friends with Lauren Sanchez? Jeff Bezos and his fiancée took some time off from entertaining A-listers on their yacht to sit down with Pope Francis, presumably to see if he would also like to hang out on the yacht.

In an Instagram post documenting the link-up, Sanchez said it was “an honor” to visit the pope at the Vatican. “His wisdom, warmth, and humor were deeply touching. He reminded us not to take life too seriously, a simple yet powerful reminder to keep lightness in our hearts,” Sanchez wrote. I wonder if he gives everyone the same spiel or if he crafted a bespoke message for these two.

“His belief in finding beauty and meaning in everything we do resonated deeply with me,” Sanchez continued. “I love that he encourages priests to read poetry and literature to stay connected with the human spirit.” Wow, I also love that. Do you think he constricts priests to the straight poets only? Would Frank O’Hara be a little too frociaggine for him?

I imagine they didn’t bring up the pope’s recent homophobia and he avoided commenting on how Jesus would feel about Amazon’s labor practices and the extramarital origin of Bezos and Sanchez’s relationship. Besides, both parties are guilty of the kind of wealth accumulation that the Bible preaches against (1 Timothy 6:10), so it’s for the best that they stuck to poetry.

Ultimately, congrats are in order for the pope on becoming part of Sanchez and Bezos’s very powerful friend group . From the photos, he seems happy to be included. And when you see him kicking with Eva Longoria and Wendi Murdoch in a couple weeks? Trust that Sanchez is the one who started the group chat.

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Jeff Bezos has hosted Bill Gates, Ari Emanuel, and other business tycoons and celebrities on his stunning $500 million yacht

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Jeff bezos and lauren sanchez meet pope francis, jeff bezos & lauren sanchez forget katy and leo ... we're hangin' with the pope.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez might be feeling more blessed than usual today ... 'cause they're fresh off meeting the Pope, and diving into climate change with him.

Lauren shared several photos alongside her soon-to-be husband early Thursday morning ... all featuring Pope Francis in his full regalia, shaking hands with Sanchezos and posing for pics.

Both Sanchez and Bezos dressed in their Sunday best for the meeting, with their black outfits offsetting the Pope's perfectly.

These 2 hang with huge celebs on the reg -- like Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry and Leo Di Caprio -- but you can tell by their smiles ... an audience with His Holiness is next level. Even for them.

Lauren added a heartfelt caption to the post ... lauding the Pope for his humor and wisdom, saying he told them to keep lightness in their hearts, and not to take life too seriously.

That said, the 3 didn't sit around talking yacht trips and private jet rides ... instead, LS says they dove into the importance of climate action -- a passion she says the trio all share.

We knew Jeff and Lauren were in Rome -- we told you about their trip to the famed Trevi Fountain to toss coins and kiss. They added a romantic stroll and lavish dinner to their Roman holiday too ... but, clearly they were in town for more than sightseeing.

BTW ... the Pontiff is active on X -- but, he hasn't posted about sitting with the couple. So, no endorsement from God's mouthpiece quite yet.

But, if the Pontiff pops up sunbathing on Bezos' yacht, would ya be shocked?

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Watch Jeff Bezos show off Blue Origin's new rocket, one of the largest ever made, and his massive factory

Jeff Bezos gave a tour of Blue Origin's factory, showcasing the space company's New Glenn rocket.

New Glenn, standing over 320 feet tall, is one of the largest rockets ever built.

The reusable rocket aims to lift 45 metric tons to low-Earth orbit and fly later this year.

Jeff Bezos recently played tour guide for a look inside Blue Origin's factory and the space company's latest rocket, New Glenn.

The billionaire gave YouTuber Tim Dodd, known by his channel moniker "Everyday Astronaut," a tour of the rocket's production facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Standing at over 320 feet tall, New Glenn is one of the largest rockets ever built, according to Blue Origin's website . Only three other rockets have been built taller: SpaceX's Starship , Saturn V, and the Russian N-1, which never successfully launched.

"The scale of things in person is always surprising," Bezos said. "The first time you see a flight article or development article, it's always surprising."

The factory tour was also an opportunity for Bezos to show off his nerdy side. The Amazon cofounder talked excitedly about the intricacies of the technology powering New Glenn.

The rocket, which is set to fly for the first time later this year , is a partially reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to lift 45 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. By comparison, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which powers Starship, can lift nearly 64 metric tons to orbit and is also partially reusable.

Bezos showed off New Glenn's Stage One, which is powered by seven BE-4 engines — powerful liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas-fueled combustion engines. He also explained the welding process of the tanks.

"This is a very high-performance way to build the tank," he said. "And especially because it's a reusable vehicle, you get to reuse all that high-performance."

New Glenn is a two-stage rocket — following its launch, Stage One will separate from the Second Stage and autonomously descend back into a landing platform to be reused. Two BE-3U engines will then propel the Second Stage into space to deliver its payload.

Bezos said the vehicle is designed to be turned around in 16 days and last for a minimum of 25 missions.

"I'm hoping it will eventually be much more," Bezos said. "We'd like to get to at least a hundred."

Bezos also talked about his past salvage mission in the Atlantic to recover Project Apollo's Saturn V engines, which powered the Apollo 11 to the moon.

"I was sitting in my living room one day and I said, 'You know, I wonder if you could find those F1 engines from Apollo 11 sitting on the bottom of the Atlantic somewhere,'" Bezos said. "And I went to Google and I typed in Apollo 11 booster impact coordinates. And they popped up."

"And so I thought, this is gonna be the easiest thing I've ever done, I'm gonna go recover those engines. Of course, that was the only part of it that was easy. It turned out to be incredibly hard."

And reusability leads to affordability, which is Bezo's main goal. He said that although manufacturing techniques have been massively improved, most major aspects of rocketry were invented in the 1960s.

"They haven't really changed, so our job today is not to do better than they did at spaceflight. It's to make it more affordable," he said.

Bezos explained the company developed a reusable thermal protection system that doesn't need to be touched up, another aspect of the rocket's operable reusability.

Viewers were also able to see the rocket's hydrogen-powered Upper Stage and its Aft Section, where the seven BE-4 engines are mounted in the base. Bezos additionally took Dodd to its forward section, which has four fins that are the "largest hydraulic actuators on a space aero surface" ever.

"A good aerospace hardware does look like art because you're just going for function," Bezos said. "But there's something when you go for that last 1% of function, it really makes things beautiful."

Bezos wasn't the first billionaire that YouTuber Tim Dodd landed a factory tour with — he's also interviewed Elon Musk multiple times, recently touring SpaceX's new "Starfactory" where its Starship rocket is made.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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