Over its 40-year history, Heesen has developed a reputation for building cutting-edge superyachts that have pushed boundaries in design, speed and efficiency. From record-breakers such as Octopussy to more recent innovators such as Galactica Star, Galactica Supernova and Home, Heesen’s facility in Oss continues to play host to remarkable superyacht projects.
The latest project to draw on this extraordinary heritage is Cosmos, an 80.7 metre aluminium superyacht that is set to push the boundaries even further. With a designed top speed close to 30 knots and an efficient cruising speed in excess of 20 knots, Cosmos will use a development of the Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) coupled with innovative construction and advanced propulsion solutions to set new standards for large aluminium yachts. Although the keel-laying ceremony is due to take place later this year in May, this is not the start of the project – indeed, an extraordinary amount of design and testing has already been undertaken and completed.
The proof-of-concept and testing process has comprised several stages, starting with the base naval architecture of the vessel and its hull form, progressing through extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work and physical tank testing of a scale model, and culminating with the design of the propellers and rudder system. For these aspects, Heesen has drawn not only on the expertise of its in-house design and engineering department but also that of long-standing partners Van Oossanen Naval Architects, and propulsion specialists at Rolls-Royce.
The first stage was to develop the FDHF concept and ensure not only that Cosmos benefitted from the efficiency and speed gains of the design, but also that the yacht could retain inherent stiffness – a challenge because Cosmos features all-aluminium construction in order to achieve the client’s desired maximum speed of close to 30 knots. The solution was for Heesen to develop the Backbone® – a method of construction that could deliver the required stiffness in the yacht without adding weight that would have impacted on the yacht’s performance. Such has been the success of the design that the Backbone® has now been patented.
A 3.7m scale segmented model of the yacht was built to use in physical tank tests at the Wolfson Unit in Southampton. After initial data on hydrodynamics, resistance and speed had been gathered, the model has been radio-controlled and self-propelled in order to measure the various bending forces acting within the hull and to prove the Backbone® concept. That provided valuable data for fine-tuning the structural design and to further optimise the construction method.
For such a large aluminium yacht, it is particularly important to know the real forces created by the sea on the hull, not just to meet Lloyd’s Register requirements but to exceed those and construct the boat to the highest loads that could be encountered.
Using the FDHF design and the Backbone® for such a large aluminium yacht requires a slightly deeper keel depth, but this actually brings further benefits. Due to the slightly increased draft Project Cosmos has a very low block coefficient, which means that the underwater body is very slim with nice verticals in the aft ship area, for an optimal flow of water towards the propellers. This results not only in improved performance but also in higher efficiency, ensuring fast cruising with comparatively low fuel consumption.
Refining the propeller design is the ongoing job of research and design engineers at Rolls-Royce. Alongside the propeller design itself, the Promas system – where propeller and rudder are integrated into a single unit to optimise hydrodynamic efficiency – has been implemented in the design.
Rolls-Royce engineers started by gathering CFD information of the water flow towards the propeller. Then the design process began with Rolls-Royce proprietary software: different iterations of propeller and rudder design were tried before arriving at the optimal solution, which was then tested in physical experiments.
By creating a 1:11 scale model of the Promas rudder and propeller in the test tank facilities of the Rolls-Royce Hydrodynamic Research Centre (HRC) in Kristinehamn, Sweden, the propeller design was fine-tuned not only to ensure the speed and efficiency requirements are met, but also that any potential problems with cavitation can be eliminated. Cavitation is essentially where air bubbles form in the flow of water around and behind the propeller. It is particularly challenging at high speed, and as well as affecting performance it can also have severe impacts on noise and vibration – a critical consideration for any superyacht project, especially for one close to 30 knots! Cavitation issues were identified and eliminated by adjusting the rudder design. Finally, the tests proved that the propeller performed above expectations.
Project Cosmos will feature variable pitch propellers that will enable the yacht to handle both impressive cruising speeds in excess of 20 knots, as well as reaching a maximum speed close to 30 knots – a considerable achievement for an 80-metre superyacht. With the hull design optimised, the construction engineering finalised and the propulsion system going through the last stages of testing, Cosmos is already proving a milestone project for Heesen and the teams involved.
“Project Cosmos is raising the bar once again not only for Heesen, but for custom aluminium yacht building in general,” says Arthur Brouwer, CEO of Heesen. “Both from a technical standpoint and from a performance point of view we are pushing boundaries. Not only has this 80.7m project been designed to reach close to 30 knots, she has been designed for fast, 20+ knots cruising in an efficient manner. The solutions we have implemented to meet all these requirements are once again driving superyachting forward – just as Heesen has done with innovative and ground-breaking projects throughout its 40-year history.”
The General Council of Confindustria Nautica has designated Piero Formenti, owner of Zar Formenti, as President of the Italian Marine Industry Association for the 2025-2029 term. The appointment will be formally ratified at the association's general meeting on May 16 during the SATEC Convention in Rapallo.Formenti becomes the first president representing the small boating sector in the association's history. The selection process saw 79.04% member participation with 94.64% approval votes.Piero FormentiSince founding Zar Formenti in 1979, specializing in inflatable boats, Formenti has served as association director since 2008 and vice president since 2019. He currently holds the position of vice-chair at European Boating Industry (EBI), having previously served two terms as president (2015-2019)."My experience provides a unified vision of the industry," Formenti stated. "Coming from the small boating segment demonstrates our sector's maturity as we address innovation, green economy, domestic market revival, regulatory simplification, and next-generation engagement during challenging economic conditions for small manufacturers."The appointment follows standard association statutes and Confederation of Industry regulations.Credits: Italian Marine Industry Association
April 29, 2025
Nautor Swan will present five maxi yachts at the Palma International Boat Show (April 30-May 3) while its new ClubSwan 43 makes its racing debut at the concurrent PalmaVela regatta. The Finnish builder's display includes the Swan 108 Fancy as centerpiece, alongside Swan 98s Drifter Cube and Alix, Swan 90 Berenice Cube, and Swan 78 Sulita in Port Vell's Superyacht Village.The 33.5-meter Fancy features quarter-cut oak interiors with light brown finishes, accommodating owners and guests across four en-suite cabins plus crew quarters. Three new Swan models (80, 108, 128) remain in development.At PalmaVela, the ClubSwan 43 Vargen will compete in ORC-rated races while maintaining one-design specifications for the brand's racing circuit. Over 110 vessels are participating in the regatta hosted by Real Club Náutico."We're approaching Palma with strong dedication," said Nautor Swan CEO Giovanni Pomati. "This show is becoming one of the most important, thanks to top shipyards and passionate owners." ClubSwan Yachts head Federico Michetti noted: "These are the first races for the ClubSwan 43 under rating rules, and we're continuing its fine-tuning for competitive performance."Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts. Credits: Nautor Swan
April 29, 2025
Dutch shipyard Vitters has signed a contract to build the 63-meter sailing yacht Project Dreamer, with construction set to begin this year at its Zwartsluis facility. The aluminum-hulled vessel, designed to maximize volume within a 500GT limit, is scheduled for delivery in 2028.Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design will handle the exterior styling, which features a radiused transom and an expansive flybridge spanning the full superstructure width with dedicated lounge and dining areas. The design incorporates a mid-lazarette with fold-down hull door for water toy deployment.Milan-based M2Atelier will develop interior spaces characterized by open layouts, natural materials, and botanical elements. Owner's representative Greg Monks stated the project will "set new standards" for flybridge yachts, emphasizing reduced noise/vibration and sustainable operation.Vitters has not disclosed technical specifications, though the yard confirmed construction will adhere to the client's request for optimized interior volume within the 500GT threshold. Additional details will be released during the build process.Vitters Shipyard is a Dutch high-end performance yacht builder. The shipyard was founded in 1990 by Jan Vitters. The company delivered the first luxury sailing boat, the 28m Aphrodite, in 1993. Vitters Shipyard has a crew of dedicated engineers and craftspeople who have a strong eye for detail and the passion to exceed the expectations of its yacht owners. Credits: Vitters
April 28, 2025
Videoworks has completed an innovative audio-visual and connectivity installation aboard Custom Line Navetta 38 Telli, the new yacht owned by Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. The system eliminates traditional satellite TV (TVRO) in favor of a fully streaming-based approach, marking a technological milestone for yachts in this size category.The setup includes high-performance Starlink maritime antennas delivering speeds up to 220 Mbps, supported by dual 5G modems as backup. "The owner requested very fast Starlink connectivity offering streaming, internet and multiple pay-per-view services," said Giovanni Varone, Yachting Sales Manager at Videoworks. "This is the first time we’ve installed such advanced systems on a project of this size."Audio features K-array and James loudspeakers for exterior areas, while interior spaces utilize Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound Theatre soundbar and Beolab 19 subwoofer. A custom pop-up speaker system was developed for the beach area, integrated with Videoworks’ Slim Audio Matrix for automatic calibration.Beolab 19Control is managed via an HTML5-based web engine, adapting dynamically to tablets, smartphones, and PCs. Hardware is consolidated into two centralized racks and a dedicated decoder distribution unit."This yacht represents the future of onboard connectivity," said Paolo Tagliapietra, Connectivity Solutions Manager at Videoworks. "The complete reliance on streaming is a game-changer for the industry."The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
April 28, 2025
The 27.5-meter motor yacht Slow Poke (ex-Coy Koi) has emerged from a comprehensive $8 million refit at Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center, completed in 2024. Originally built in 2000 as part of Kuipers' Doggersbank series, the Vripack-designed explorer underwent a 2.5-year transformation to suit its American owner's preferences for vintage-inspired functionality.Key modifications include a 2.5-meter hull extension with a CFD-optimized bulbous bow, improving speed by 2 knots and reducing fuel consumption by 10%. The redesign also incorporated a hydraulic swim platform and elevated stern. "Slow Poke now has a platform that allows us to engage with the water easily and freely while we explore," the owner stated.The yacht retains its original steel hull and aluminum superstructure, with mechanical systems including rebuilt engines and generators from a 2018 refit. New exterior features include black hull paint with a British racing green stripe and custom awning artwork by Paul Kremer. Interior updates by New York's Redd Kaihoi introduce high-gloss retro styling while preserving Vripack's original layout.Accommodation remains for six guests across three ensuite cabins, including a master suite color-matched to the owner's 1952 Porsche 356A. The vessel maintains its signature split-level flybridge and expanded aft deck spaces."For me, Slow Poke is the perfect three night boat," the owner commented. "It provides the type of tranquillity that you can't get with a bigger boat." Since delivery, the yacht has cruised the West Coast from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest.Vripack is a yacht-design studio with a portfolio that represents over 7400 designs, made strong through its extensive naval architecture and engineering experience. From the moment they opened their doors in 1961, Vripack studio’s approach to design has been governed by the playful interaction between form and function.Credits: Vripack
April 28, 2025