Heesen Yachts has announced that on 1 July 2017, the world’s first Fast Displacement motor yacht equipped with hybrid propulsion was delivered to her Owner in international waters.

Home (formerly Project Nova) – a 50m all aluminium motor yacht below 500GT with shallow draft – underwent intensive sea trials in the North Sea for five days in calm sea conditions, with waves of up to 0.5m and light breeze. Not only has Home easily exceeded her contractual maximum speed of 16.3 knots in the traditional diesel engine mode, but also expectations in her hybrid ‘silent cruising mode’. Thanks to two 127kW water-cooled DC electric shaft motors, she exceeded the predicted speed of 9 knots with noise and vibration levels well below the specification levels.

The superyacht is not only ultra-quiet, but she is also extremely fuel efficient. At 12 knots, she has a fuel consumption of 98 litres per hour (excluding generators) and at 10 knots in hybrid mode this further reduces to a staggering 45 litres per hour, which for a 50m yacht, displacing 295 tons and with a Gross Tonnage of 499, is an outstanding achievement.

The Dutch shipyard has recently announced Project Antares' joining of a hull and superstructure. The yacht has now entered the outfitting phase and will be ready for delivery to her owners in November 2018.

Photos by Dick Holthuis