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Heesen Yachts

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Heesen Yachts
IndustryShipbuilding
Founded1978
FoundersFrans Heesen
Headquarters
Netherlands
ProductsCustom Built Superyachts
Websitewww.heesenyachts.com

Heesen Yachts is a Dutch ship building company that specializes in custom built superyachts. Founded in 1978, it has launched more than 170 yachts since its inception, many of which have become award-winning. It is considered one of the world leaders in the design, construction and engineering of all-aluminum yachts.[1]

History

Frans Heesen founded Heesen Yachts in 1978.[2] He was an entrepreneur who purchased the Striker Boats shipyard site in the Netherlands as a potential home for another business. At the time he was best known for his work in the plastics industry but decided to retain the property as a shipyard and continue its operations.[3] One year following the purchase, Heesen launched the 20 metre (66 ft) Amigo, a luxury yacht that was the first to bear the Heesen name.[4]

The Amigo in 2009.

1988 was a breakthrough year for Heesen Yachts. It was commissioned by American entrepreneur John Staluppi to build a yacht that could do more than 50 knots.[5][6] Consequently, Heesen built Octopussy, later renamed Octopussy 007, after the 1983 James Bond film. This custom built yacht was at the time the fastest yacht on record, registering at 53.17 knots.[6] It was refitted and lengthened by another company years later and, due to its gain in weight, no longer ranked as one of the world's fastest yachts.[7]

By 1990, Heesen had built more than 25 yachts over 27 metres (89 ft) in length, earning it a reputation as one of the world's leading custom yacht builders.[8] The Mirage, formerly El Corsario, considered a sister design to the Octopussy, was launched by Heesen in 1991. It used triple waterjets as propulsion and ranked as the 16th fastest ships in the world by Boat International.[9] It has a cruising speed of 45 knots and can travel up to 48 knots.

In 1992, the company expanded its business to include the construction of traditional displacement, long range steel hulled yachts with the launch of the 50 metre (160 ft) motor yacht Achiever in collaboration with Oceanco.[10]

In 1996 Heesen, already known for its earlier Striker sport fishing boats, entered the market for large sport fishing yachts with the delivery of the 37 metre (121 ft) Obsession, a yacht that could reach a speed of 33 knots.[11] At that time she was the world’s largest sport fishing yacht.[10] Heesen expanded in 2003, the same year it launched its 3700 and 4400 yacht series.[10] The expansion included the building of a new construction facility that allowed them to produce eight yachts per year.[10]

Heesen Luxury yacht "Man of Steel", at Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA in 2009.

Heesen Yachts was featured in Voyages of M/Y AlumerciA, a 2011 book written by Andrew Rogers. The book documents the voyages between 2001 and 2010 of the eponymous motoryacht that was built by Heesen. In 2013, Heesen launched the 65 metre (213 ft) Fast Displacement Galactica Star, a custom built yacht with a top speed of 28.8 knots.[12] It has received nine awards including the best semi-displacement 50m+ yacht at the World Superyacht Awards.[13] Heesen also launched the Satori in 2011 which also received a World Superyacht Award.[10] Frans Heesen retired from the company in 2012, 35 years after founding Heesen Yachts.[6]

2014 brought about Heesen Yacht's largest project to date, the 70 metre (230 ft) aluminum fast displacement yacht.[14] Named Project Kometa, it is built in collaboration with Espen Oeino and has a top speed of 30 knots. The yacht is scheduled for delivery in 2016.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "SuperYacht of the week: 4YOU, Heesen's latest masterpiece". Superyacht Times. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Heesen Sirocco". The Review Mag. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Het pensioensbootje van Frans Heesen, rijk worden zonder studie en de smartphone straks" (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Frans Heesen, Best Business Person of the Year 2009". Superyachts. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  5. ^ Chrisnell, Mark. "Lunch with...superyacht owner John Staluppi". Boat International. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Elephants of Luxury - Frans Heesen: Founder of Heesen Yachts". Elephant Lifestyle. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Motor Yacht - Octopussy 007 - Heesen Yachts - Completed Superyachts". Superyacht Times.
  8. ^ Dawson, Dudley (August 1999). "Pershing 54 is an American Revolution". Yachting. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Top 20 Fastest Yachts". Boat International. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d e MacLean, Malcolm. "Going Dutch - six Heesen motor yachts for sale". Boat International. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  11. ^ de Waard, Merijn (3 April 2014). "Heesen's superyacht Obsessions in D-Marin Didim". Superyacht Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Forget Iron Man and Star Trek". Yachting Magazine. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  13. ^ "The winners of the World Superyacht Awards". Superyacht Times. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Kometa, by Heesen Yachts: October 2014 Motoryacht video". Mega Yacht News. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
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