Heesen Sell 47m Project Hé

Heesen Yachts in Holland announced earlier this week that the 47m (154ft) displacement, YN 16947 Project Hé, was sold on June 13 2014. Mark Cavendish, Sales and Marketing Director at Heesen Yachts comments: "This is the fourth contract we have signed in the first six months of 2014. We are delighted to see that the market is finally picking up!" This is a great order book for the yard in the first six months of the year.

She has a well engineered round bilge hull with a bulbous bow. She will be powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M63 that will ensure smooth and safe cruising in all sea conditions and a range of 4,000nm at 12kts, while zero speed stabilizers will guarantee maximum comfort at anchor.

Her sophisticated interior is designed by London based and multi award winning studio Bannenberg & Rowell Design who are on their fifth successful collaboration with this Dutch megayacht builder. The fleet includes the 37m Aurelia, 47m Elandess (now Raasta), Lady Petra and My Secret, and the recently launched 65m Galactica Star.

Guru designer in Bannenberg & Rowell Design Dieter Rams’ motto to omit everything superfluous so that the essential is shown to the best possible advantage guided Bannenberg & Rowell in their approach to the interior design of Project Hé. The project name "Hé" in Chinese means "the simplest form of peace and harmony" and Bannenberg & Rowell chose it to unify in one ideogram the essence of their design theme: simplicity as the ultimate form of sophistication.

Twelve guests will enjoy a relaxing atmosphere on board where light colors are combined with natural and discreet contrast finishes. She will be delivered to her owners in February 2015.

Heesen Yachts Launch 65m Galactica Star

News just out, we finally get the first look at the stunning 65m (213ft) "Galactica Star" that was launched by Heesen Yachts on the 25th of March 2013.

The concept was presented to the superyacht community in September 2010 at the Monaco Yacht Club and the contract for the construction of the first 65m FDHF was signed just one month later, in October 2010. Construction took place at the Heesen facility in Oss where the laying of the keel was marked with an official ceremony in February 2011.

Van Oossenan naval architects have designed a sophisticated hydrodynamic hull shape that will be 30% more efficient than your traditional round bilge superyacht design. Her advanced design combines a special hybrid hull form that results in a very low wave profile over the entire speed range, while also improving manoeuvrability. This provides low running costs for Galactica Star, as well as lowering the environmental footprint due to reduced engine emissions. Your perfect green superyacht.

Frank Laupman at Omega Architects was responsible for the streamlined exterior lines, while Bannenberg and Rowell Design have created the sophisticated interior. She is scheduled to leave the Heesen facility in a few weeks, where she will head to the North Sea for some intensive sea trials before she is handed over to her new owners in June 2013.

Feadship Launch "Larisa"

This week Feadship launched their newest addition to their ever growing fleet of superyachts. Larisa measures 57.60m (189ft) and was custom built for an experienced owner who was looking to own a superyacht by one of the worlds top builders.

Her exterior lines are contemporary yet have classic influences seen in the windows, doors, the bridge and the gray styling in the superstructures decks. Bannenberg & Rowell took on the challenge of her interior design which lead them on a three year design voyage that took in influences from Greece, Italy, the Riviera and the Byzantine Empire, then they blended them perfectly within Larisa's interior.

At the launch ceremony, Feadship director Henk de Vries praised the excellent cooperation with the owner's team, Bannenberg & Rowell Design and the captain. "The designers did an incredible job in creating detail and intricacy, creating an interesting and detailed interior." He also explained that the contract for Larisa had been the first new order signed after the beginning of the financial crisis. "A Feadship is not just a luxury product - it also has to add up financially. The smart and efficient negotiating skills of Will Christie at Y.CO played an important role in bringing this project to fruition at a crucial time for the industry."

 Larisa's captain James Verity told the watching crowds that the entire project had been great fun. "It has long been an ambition of mine to be involved with a build at Feadship. Over the past three years I have seen that the real Feadship magic occurs on the shop floor – the quality of workmanship, the attention to detail and the pride that goes into the work here is unmatched, and this is why Feadship is at the very top of modern yacht building today."

Before cracking open the champagne, the owner also spoke a few words. "It's now some 400 years since Peter the Great came from Russia to the Netherlands to learn yacht building and we have been trying to perfect the art ever since. But we still can't beat Feadship, which is why I had my boat built here. As someone who has been involved in engineering various construction projects, I understand how difficult it is to create something as magnificent as Larisa on time and within budget. Everyone at Feadship has done a fantastic job."

Specifications

• Length: 57.60m (189ft)
• Beam: 10.55m (34ft)
• Draft: 3.25m (11ft)
• Max Speed: 15.5kts
• Range: Transatlantic
• Guests: 8
• Crew 12

Heesen Yachts Deliver Two Superyachts

The Dutch Shipyard Heesen are on a role this year and have just delivered another two Superyachts, Galactica Plus who measures 35m (115ft) and MY Secret who is 47m (154ft). This brings the total yachts delivered this year to 5, including the 55m Serenity, the 44m Lady L and the 47m Lady Petra.

Galactica Plus is a fully custom semi-displacement hull built in aluminium with an interior and exterior designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. She will have a maximum speed of 27kts and a range of 1,400nm at 11kts. MY Secret has a steel hull and is a fully displacement Superyacht that will have a range of 4,000nm at 12kts. Her luxurious interior has been designed by Bannenberg & Rowell Design.

Heesen Yachts has 10 yachts on its order book that will keep them busy delivering yachts until 2015.

Princess Yachts 40m Takes Maiden Voyage

The largest production yacht ever launched in Britain, with the largest resin-infused hull ever moulded, the new Princess 40M (131ft) has been making headlines ever since the Plymouth yacht builder announced plans for her some three years ago. Now, after a successful launch, commissioning and compliance to Class and Flag in Plymouth, hull No.1 Imperial Princess, is on her maiden voyage to the warmer waters of the Mediterranean.

She had to make a small pit stop in Jersey, Channel Islands where she was formally handed over to her owner by Chris Cleverly and Nigel James of Princess Motor Yacht Sales together with Chris Gates, Managing Director of Princess Yachts International. After the hand over was complete she was on her way south to the med where she made some light work of the large seas in the Bay of Biscay. After she reaches the Med she will be attending the Festival de la Plaisance in Cannes this September and a few days later the famous Monaco Yacht Show.

The owner of Imperial Princess has chosen the five cabin option with two VIP double cabins and two twin cabins all en suite, which are situated on the lower deck. These cabins will have large side windows that let in plenty of natural light. The fifth cabin is the owners full beam cabin which is forward on the main deck and is accessed through a versatile room which can be specified as an office, private TV room or a reading room to suit the owner’s personal requirements.


The main deck will include the main saloon, formal dining area, a professional galley which was designed to the exact brief of a professional chef and hydraulically folding balconies on both sides of the saloon. On the third deck there is an elegant sky lounge and an exterior dining area for private drinks and al fresco dining. A curved stairway leads up to the sun deck complete with bar, seating, sunbathing and a jacuzzi.

Her interior was designed by Princess in collaboration with the London studio of Bannenberg & Rowell. Her interior will have a variety of different woods, granites, stones, and fabrics to give a classic look of contrasting tones, textures and surfaces.

Hull No.2 is already progressing well and hull No.3 has just completed her infusion. Each will be completely individual as within the parameters of the structure, with the owners able to construct the yacht of their dreams. No two yachts will ever be the same.

Double Take For Heesen Yachts

The Dutch shipyard Heesen this week has just signed a contract to build a new 42m (132ft) fast displacement and have also sold their 47m (154ft) displacement project California to delighted owners that will take the delivery next month, June 2012. This is a great week for the yard in terms of new builds and sales, and adds to an order book that consists of 12 Megayachts that will all be delivered to their owners by the end of 2015, Wow now that's an order book.

The 42m Fast Displacement

The 42m fast displacement (seen in the below image) will be the first Heesen hull with to be equipped with Hull Vane. Created by Piet Van Oossanen from Oossanen Naval Architects, Hull Vane is a foil fitted below the hull that can reduce resistance through the water by 24% at maximum speed, achieving an average reduction in drag of nearly 18% over the entire speed range.

Hull Vane also reduces the motion and acceleration of the yacht in heavy seas due to the damping effect of the foil below the hull. This results in a much more comfortable motion for guests in heavy seas.

Her exterior lines have been designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. Twelve guests will sleep in 6 cabins: the owners have two suites one which is positioned aft on the upper deck and includes a gym, the second is located in the traditional place forward on the main deck and includes a starboard balcony, a studio and a large walk-in closet. The guest accommodation is located on the lower deck and feature 2 double and 2 twin cabins all of which have private ensuite bathrooms.

This innovative Megayacht project is due for completion in 2014 and its going to be presented to the yachting community at the Monaco Yacht Club on September 19th.

The 47m Project California

Project California is the 9th Megayacht in Heesen's award winning 47m displacement class. Again Frank Laupman of Omega Architects is responsible for the smooth exterior lines of this award winning yacht. Bannenberg & Rowell Design have taken the interior decor back to styles that were seen in California in the 1940s and 1950s, with the main deck taking on the styling of the classic Hollywood era with the use of bleached wenge floorboards, white elm and stainless steel paneling, leather and marble. The combination of the different woods used was inspired by custom made surfboards built from recycled timber.

She will have a maximum speed of 15kts, with a range of 4,000nm at a speed of 12kts. She is scheduled for delivery to her new owners in June 2012.

The First Sight of Heesen's New 65m Hull "YN 16465"

The construction of the hull and superstructure of YN 16465 started in December 2011 at Hessen's facility in Oss, and marked the start of years of planning. Frank Laupman from Omega Architects, who are responsible for the exterior design, was delighted:

"Being able to see the joining of the hull and superstructure is a great thing for me - who drew the first sketch that was just some 40cm long. Today I can finally see that the lines I sketched on paper more than two years ago, work in reality."

YN 16465 has the revolutionary Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) that was developed by Van Oossanen and Associates. The interior of YN 16465 has been designed by Dickie Bannenberg of Bannenberg and Rowell Design and he is very impressed by the precision and teamwork that has gone into the yacht;

"Looking at the metal work you can sense the precision at the yard and see the results of immaculate teamwork. Even sitting in the water in bare metal, the yacht exudes speed and intent. We can't wait for our interior to go in."

YN 16465 is now in the outfitting stage in the enlarged and renewed dry dock in shed no.5 at the Heesen facility in Oss, the Neatherlands. She is scheduled for delivery in june of 2013. She will be able to accommodate 12 guests and have a crew of 13, with a maximum speed of 27kts and a range of 4,500nm at 14kts.

The short movie below shows the hull construction and the joining of the hull and superstructure. An amazing video.