50-metre Project Nova was unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show as the latest Fast Displacement Hull project from Heesen, but with a twist. The yacht will see a combination of all of the yard's space, fuel and environment-saving features in a sleek and powerful package. She will be constructed entirely out of aluminum, and is set to deliver unmatched living spaces for a yacht in the sub 500 gross tonnage class.

"Project Nova will be the world's first FDHF motor yacht equipped with hybrid propulsion, and a perfect statement to our investments," says the Dutch shipyard in a statement. Set to be launched in 2017, Nova was developed in partnership with the masterminds at Van Oossanen Naval Architects and exterior styled by Omega Architects.

Mark Cavendish, sales and marketing director at Heesen, says: "Project Nova, unlike Galactica Star, is not designed for exceptional high, speeds but instead uses the ultra efficient and easily driven hull form at the lower speeds typically associated with traditional displacement hulls but with vastly lower fuel consumption."

Excluding generators, cruising at 12 knots Project Nova has a fuel consumption of only 98 litres per hour, and at 10 knots an amazing 57.5 litres per hour. "She also has a maximum speed of 16.3 knots, which is no slouch for a displacement yacht and demonstrates that we haven't achieved this performance by installing a pair of outrageously small engines!" says Cavendish.

The hybrid propulsion system allows for very little disturbance from the noise of the engines underway. In hybrid mode at 9 knots, the decibel levels in all the guest cabins will drop to just 46 decibels, and 48 in the dining area.

Project Nova has a noticeable plumb bow and spray rails, drawn by Frank Laupman at Omega Architects. She has a fixed swimming platform aft and an array of glass to make her design closer to that of a beach villa for "a more intimate connection with the sea and nature around you."

The superyacht includes a gym with separate hammam that can be accessed both from the guest corridor and the main deck. Guests are accommodated across six staterooms, including a full beam VIP stateroom on the lower deck, as well as the owner's stateroom alongside the main saloon on the main deck, with the upper saloon above.

Designed by Sinot, the interior design also echoes the beach-style theme of the exterior with clean, modern lines. Natural fabrics and materials are used in order to emphasize the vast amount of natural light flooding in through her panoramic windows.

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