Yacht news

Heesen’s YN 19480 Project Cosmos was launched at the shipyard in Oss on November 19. The 80m superyacht has a gross tonnage of 1,700GT. She is the biggest and fastest all-aluminium yacht ever built. During the launch She is impressive for its immense size and a remarkable top speed of almost 30 knots. This is achieved thanks to the lightweight and low-drag hull design by Heesen’s naval architects on an iteration of the Fast Displacement Hull Form devised by van Oossanen, and assembled, millimetre-perfect, by Heesen’s welders. Ensuring sufficient longitudinal strength was one of the biggest technological challenges facing Heesen’s engineering team, who designed and patented the Backbone – an intricate, full-length structural reinforcement system. Power comes from traditional, if highly refined, diesel propulsion – four engines, two gearboxes, variable-pitch propellers and ultra-innovative Promas rudders.Project Cosmos renders Cosmos’s clean lines, a sporty silhouette and the extensive use of glass create a timeless, dynamic profile which were made by renowned British studio Winch Design. “The Winch vision for Cosmos was to retain Heesen’s sporty DNA but blend it with an innovative, futuristic spin. Curved glass forms smooth, sculpted shapes, creating a feeling of slick, contemporary charm,” said Jim Dixon, Director of Yachts and Aviation at the British design house. Project Cosmos helipad day viewSinot Yacht Architecture & Design was responsible for the light and soothing interior design that makes guests feel at home from the moment they step aboard. While the overall palette is neutral, splashes of a range of blue hues are infused into the design throughout. The piece de résistance is undoubtedly the beach club, with its side and stern platforms. The backlit onyx bar with centrally positioned seating is the focal point of this ample and airy space close to the water. With the size, weight and performance of Project Cosmos so intimately connected, Sinot collaborated closely with Heesen’s in-house engineers to ensure that their stringent weight calculations were always met.Project Cosmos helipad night view“Today, we are celebrating the launch of a unique yacht,” said Heesen CEO Arthur Brouwer. “Unique not only for our shipyard, as she is the largest we have ever taken on and represents the pinnacle of our achievements to date. Cosmos is also unique in the industry – the largest and fastest aluminium yacht in her class ever built.”Following her launch, Project Cosmos will remain at Heesen for commissioning before undergoing intense sea trials in the North Sea commencing in February. She is scheduled for delivery in April 2022.Heesen Yachts is a Dutch ship building company that specializes in custom-built superyachts in aluminium and steel from 30m to 70m in size. Founded in 1978, it has launched more than 170 yachts since its inception.Credits: Dick Holthuis/Heesen Yachts

The first hull of the newest 100 Sunreef Power is the largest catamaran of the fleet. The shipyard even calls this model a super catamaran. Indeed, the 100 Sunreef Power is a luxury transatlantic vessel, the first of the shipyard's newest models, custom designed. “The 100 Sunreef Power is a new addition to the Sunreef Yachts range. It features a sporty hull line, a huge open bridge and an innovative combination of garage system and aft platform. To enhance comfort and performance, our engineers have developed an innovative body shape. I believe that catamarans are under-represented in the superyacht market, but thanks to the 100 Sunreef Power project, their time has finally come, ”says Yacht Design Director Agnieszka Bliźniuk.Let's take a look at the list of innovations: the 100 Sunreef Power features a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient air conditioning system and is able to provide air conditioning throughout the night without the need for generators. The catamaran's open bridge offers exceptional comfort with many seating areas including a bar and a large dining table. Guests can also enjoy the custom built spa pool.The interior is very delicate – it combines natural oak veneer, rose quartz and brass accents. This homely style of interior is repeated in all the catamaran cabins. Five large en-suite cabins are provided to accommodate ten guests. The main deck seating area consists of a large port area with a reclining 55-inch TV and a custom designed starboard drinks bar. In the bow of the saloon, there is a galley offering restaurant-grade amenities and access to the below deck cold storage. The main deck also houses a well-equipped gym with ocean views and access to an expansive bow deck.With a large panoramic glazing, the main deck saloon is an extensive and fully customizable area filled with natural light. A sliding door opens the interior lounging space wide onto the aft cockpit, inviting the outside in.The stern cockpit of the 100 Sunreef Power uses the yacht’s entire beam for a unique alfresco dining and lounging experience. The area features a hydraulic aft platform and a garage for two large jet skis, a refueling station and a selection of water toys. The platform can be leveled with the aft skirts to create a large beach club.The 100 Sunreef Power provides comfortable crew accommodation in three cabins, two of which are located in the bow of the hull and one in the stern.“Thanks to projects such as the 100 Sunreef Power, we are also gaining ground on the monohull-dominated superyacht scene, because today, more and more owners realize that catamarans make fantastic luxury yachts,” says Francis Lapp.Sunreef Yachts was founded by Francis Lapp in 2002 in Gdansk, Poland, and the shipyard has been designing and manufacturing luxury sailing and power multihulls ever since. Credits: Sunreef Yachts

Last Wednesday Feadship shared a video of 55m Shinkai during her first time on the open sea. Shinkai, a 55m true superyacht explorer with a no compromise approach, became the eighth superyacht to be launched from Philippe Briand’s Vitruvius Yachts studio, with construction and co-naval architecture carried out by Feadship De Vries, while Daniela Boutsen has provided her interior design. Shinkai leaving the shipyard's Aalsmeer facilityIt was a challenging journey – the yacht was required to have a three-person submersible for pioneering underwater exploration along with the giant crane required for launching and collection. Another challenge for the all team was to consider both a superyacht and an explorer at the same time. Shinkai renders “This is a special project for us, as Shinkai is the second yacht that we have designed for her owner. In fact, he was the first yachtsman to embrace the benefits of Vitruvius’s efficient hulls,” says Philippe Briand. The result is a 55m 974GT Shinkai that can reach the most remote places on the planet. She is ice-classed and stabilized by a vast mono gyroscope, which has never been specified on a yacht of this scale before. The 23-tonne gyroscope is particularly important for operations of the submersible, which needs a perfectly stable launching platform. It is also beneficial when navigating through waters at high latitudes, replacing conventional fin stabilisers which are at risk of being damaged by ice and flotsam, and are inefficient at low speeds.Shinkai renders She has four decks plus an observatory setting. The owner’s cabin is positioned forward in the superstructure, with an exceptional area of 73 sq. m and a 135-degree view through full-height reinforced windows. There are four further guest suites, while seven cabins for 12 crew complete the accommodations. Shinkai infographic by VitruviusBeing an explorer, Shinkai carries a wide variety of serious toys, such as her 7,400kg U-Boat Worx submersible for three passengers. The yacht’s design includes an extended aft deck to support the toys that make for a truly adventurous expedition, including 4x4 land vehicle, a large limousine tender, and multiple robust RIBs.With Shinkai’s far-reaching cruising plans to explore the planet comes the responsibility to be environmentally sensitive in her operations, which Philippe Briand took into account when designing her hull lines. Even with the yacht’s generous displacement of 974GT, her hull resistance has been optimised to deliver a reasonable fuel consumption of 19.5L per nautical mile at a cruising speed of 12 knots.Shinkai for the first time on the open seaShinkai having just completed sea trials in the North Sea’s waters off The Netherlands.As the creative force behind Shinkai’s powerful yet elegant design, Vitruvius Yachts’ Philippe Briand was onboard to experience her performance. Here, the designer and naval architect shares his thoughts on how she measured up to expectations during the critical sea trials assessment: “The cold, grey November weather presenting itself to us on the day of Shinkai’s sea trials could not have been better to test her unique blend of rugged explorer meets comfortable superyacht. When you first step onboard, you are greeted by the ‘tech beauty’ of her striking red submersible and its accompanying immense ‘goldorak’ style crane; and then your attention is drawn to the glossy silver superyacht before you. A true rarity, she presents an inspiring combination of styles and capabilities”.“Shinkai’s full-height reinforced windows delivering an astonishing 270-degree view. Experiencing her excellent performance first hand, after four years of involvement in her creation from the very beginning, I confirmed to her owner by phone that she will be the perfect protective and comfortable cocoon from which to explore all the world’s oceans. And of course, Shinkai’s design efficiency and Feadship de Vries’ technology will help protect the planet’s oceans, too!” says Philippe Briand. Philippe Briand is the founder and designer of Vitruvius Yachts Ltd. He made his name designing award-winning sailing yachts under his own brand name and building on that experience has led him to create a revolutionary range of motor yachts: Vitruvius Yachts with a range in size of over 100m in length. With over 12,000 boats built to date, Philippe Briand could reasonably be considered the most prolific yacht designer of our time. Feadship was formed as a group in 1949 as a marketing partnership between six Dutch shipyards, de Vries Lentch, Van de Stadt, Witsen & Vis, Akerboom, De Vries Scheepsbouw and Van Lent Shipyard, and De Voogt Naval Architects. Feadship is well-known as one of the Netherlands’ most elite yacht builders and delivers superyachts from 50–100+ meters in length.Credits: Feadship; Vitruvius Yachts

Green Yard Kleven of Norway, a respected ship builder and pioneer of environmentally conscious marine technology and propulsion has signed an agreement with international yacht brokerage and management firm Yachting Partners International (YPI).Photo from left: Rune Gamlem, Sales Manager Green Yard Kleven, Peter Thompson and Russell Crump, YPI and Hans Jørgen Fedog, CEO of Green Yard GroupGreen Yard Kleven has already delivered two superyachts, 107.4m Andromeda in 2016 and 116m Ulysses in 2018 and with the sales and marketing expertise of YPI firmly behind them will be pitching for new build projects from 80m upwards, with build slots available immediately. The collaboration with YPI, through their Monaco-based but globally connected sales team, brings Green Yard Kleven actively into the yacht market.“We view the construction of large yachts, aka superyachts, as a highly topical market for us. The yacht brokers from YPI are experienced and have a huge network in the industry. A collaboration with them means that we can get in touch with yacht brokers, representatives and direct clients all over the world in a completely different way than if we were to do this alone” says Hans Jørgen Fedog, CEO of Green Yard Group.The Kleven name is known in the ship building and yachting industry as a mark of quality and in recent years also as pioneers in battery technology, hybrid vessels and full cycle build to recycle plans. Northern European yacht building is considered the finest in the world and the backdrop to the shipyard in Ulsteinvik is second to none with relatively easy access by land, air and sea. “There is an increasing demand for large yachts with high quality build, cleaner energy solutions and expedition capabilities. Green Yard Kleven offers the right facilities, expertise in more sustainable energy choices and build slots with efficient delivery times, making them a key player in the 80m+ market. Our remit is to ensure that all potential clients looking in this size range are aware of the excellent package available,” commented Peter Thompson, Managing Partner, Yacht Sales, Yachting Partners International.Photo from left: Rune Gamlem, Sales Manager Green Yard Kleven, Peter Thompson and Russell Crump, YPI and Hans Jørgen Fedog, CEO of Green Yard GroupFor Green Yard Kleven, this collaboration is important and exciting in a tough market.“We have seen the market develop from a handful of enthusiastic multimillionaires who build, buy and operate superyachts to now over 7800 superyachts in operation all over the world, and currently over 600 in construction. There are 152 yachts over 80 meters in operation and a further 33 under construction. Over the last couple of years, the number of yachts over 80 meters in operation has increased by 22%, and we believe it is quite clear that there is a good and current market for the construction of larger superyachts in particular. Green Yard Kleven has the capacity to start a new construction project immediately, which is also a great advantage” say Russell Crump, Consultant and Peter Thompson, Managing Partner, YachtSales, Yachting Partners International.Yachting Partners International is a full-service yachting house with 49 years of experience, guiding clients through every aspect of the yachting journey across sales, charter, yacht management and a unique client experience division. YPI specialises in yachts over 25m, covering the full superyacht range and smaller day boats if required. Credits: Yachting Partners International

Silent-Yachts will be the first boat builder to date to design and build boats for the use of a kite sail system. The new Silent 60 solar powered catamaran carries 42 solar panels for 17 kWp of solar energy to power two electric motors of up to 2x340kw. Backed up by a battery capacity of up to 286 kWh, the yacht can cruise efficiently with zero emissions solely on solar power for up to 100 nautical miles a day for weeks. To further improve its green credentials and range, for longer crossings the first Silent 60 is also fitted with a compact 9 or 13 sq. m kite wing. The kite wing is optionally available on all Silent models.After inflating the kite, it is released overboard to drift away on the surface of the water. Pulling on the lines it launches into the air and once it reaches the optimal flight height, it begins to trace a figure “8” in the sky and generates power to pull the yacht.If you want to stop kiting, the automated app controls move the kite to a position right above the boat where it has the least pull on the line. From here it can be winched down electrically and collapsed over the foredeck ready for stowage.“The main advantages of a kite over a conventional sail system are that it does not throw shade on the solar panels, does not need a tall mast, and generates up to 10 times more power per square metre than a traditional sail. In addition to that it saves about 1,5 tons of weight compared to conventional rigg and costs much less,” says Michael Köhler, Silent-Yachts founder and CEO.The first Silent 60 has four guest cabins on the lower deck, including a spacious master suite, but other layout solutions are available. There are numerous social areas on board, including an airy main salon, an aft cockpit, a cosy bow area and a flybridge. The yacht also has high headroom throughout (up to 2.32m in the main salon).Thanks to a draft of under 1m the yacht can access shallow bays, a crucial consideration for cruising grounds in the Caribbean and South East Asia. Two swimming platforms in the stern can be extended on owner’s request to carry a pair of electric jet skis. The lifting hydraulic platform between the two platforms can carry a 4 m tender.The Silent 60 is designed to go everywhere as a true bluewater cruising yacht. The solar-electric system is configured to power all the on-board systems without the need of fossil fuels for a generator. Featuring a new, high-performance hull form with a longer waterline and reverse bow, the yacht has a cruising speed of 6-8 knots, but can reach 20 knots if needed.Silent-Yachts is producing the world’s first fully solar-sustainable oceangoing production catamaran yachts. They are powered exclusively by solar energy and capable of cruising up to 100 miles per day. In 2009, founders Heike and Michael Köhler, who have spent 6,000 days cruising more than 75,000 miles all around the world, launched the Solarwave 46, the first fully self-sufficient blue-water catamaran after years of testing solar-powered propulsion, and they have been building boats ever since. Credits: Silent-Yachts