Koru, Jeff Bezos' $500 million megayacht, has finally begun sea trials, bringing the 127-meter luxury vessel closer to becoming the second largest sailing yacht in the world, behind Andrey Melnichenko's…
A YouTube video posted by Dutch Yachting shows the megayacht going through a preliminary set of tests on the first day of its sea trials. Sea trials of a newly constructed ship are important to ensure its overall safety and detect problems before final handover. The video begins with a shot of the ship pulling out into open waters before sunrise on a foggy morning. After that, the Koru megayacht begins self-powered battery testing, performing 180-degree turns and turning circle tests. Interestingly, this is the first time that a gigantic luxury ship has been filmed moving with the help of its own propulsion system.
While Koru's three huge masts were drenched last summer when she was taken out of dry dock, the sails have yet to be unfurled, which is expected to be done in the next few days during sea trials. With sails unfurled, the three-masted yacht will be a sight to behold. The YouTube video also includes drone footage of the luxury megayacht, giving us a glimpse of some of her amenities visible from the outside. The vessel has three huge decks and at least two large swimming pools. Koru has a navy hull with red stripes and a white superstructure decorated with varnished wood. Her beautiful shape is characterized by a long bow and classic stern.
Originally identified as Oceanco Y721, the 127-metre yacht was christened Koru earlier this year. It's a Maori word that translates to "new beginnings". The vessel was embroiled in controversy in 2021 when it emerged that the historic De Hef Bridge would have to be dismantled to allow the masts to pass underneath. However, Oceanco chose to transport the vessel without a mast, helping to keep the bridge intact.
The magnificent superyacht is expected to complete its sea trials soon and be delivered to its billionaire owner later this year. Koru also has an equally interesting auxiliary ship, named Abeona after the Roman goddess who presided over the departure of passengers. Built by Damen Yachting, the vessel measures 75 meters, making it the largest custom-built yacht. The support vessel completed its sea trials in December 2022 and was recently handed over to the Amazon founder.
