Heesen Yachts' hybrid silent superyacht, Home, is to showcase at the Monaco Yacht Show, which starts on 27 September

21 September 2017

Dutch shipyard Heesen will unveil its pioneering superyacht, Home, at the Monaco Yacht Show next week.

The world’s first fast displacement superyacht equipped with hybrid propulsion was handed over to its owner in July, following five days of sea trials in the North Sea.

Heesen said Home’s ground-breaking technology enables her to “offer the ultimate luxury: a silent cruising mode”.

The shipyard worked closely with sensory expert Professor Barry Smith, Founder of the Centre for the Study of the Senses and Director of the Institute of Philosophy, who discovered that the silent nature of the superyacht actually enhanced the enjoyment of good food and wine on board.

HOME - the fast displacement superyacht with hybrid propulsion by Heeson Yachts

“Our research has shown that the brain’s processing of taste is affected by noise, which reduces the tongue’s ability to detect salt, sweet and sour,” explained the professor.

“The beauty of Home is the ability to run at a sound of around 46 decibels — the sound level of softly falling rain – enabling those on board to enjoy food and drink to the full with no diminution of taste,” he added.

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The first of a new breed of superyacht, Home, previously called Project Nova, is quieter, cleaner and more fuel efficient.

The Fast Displacement Hull Form offers fuel efficiency due to the use of lightweight aluminium and the silent cruising mode can reach up to 9 knots.

Propelled by a hybrid of both diesel mechanical and diesel electrical, her power sources can be used simultaneously or independently, reducing noise, vibration and again increasing efficiency.

Heesen Yachts Project Nova

In silent cruise mode, her fuel consumption reduces to 45 litres per hour – an astonishing feat for a yacht displacing 295 tons and a gross tonnage of 499.

Home’s striking exterior features a vertical bow, swim platform and floor to ceiling glass windows – all designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects.

Inside, her two-tone palette, with jewel-like burgundy details, is the vision of interior designer Cristiano Gatto, appointed by the owner himself to create a linear design enriched by geometrical patterns and using precious materials, including rare Belgian marble.

The Monaco Yacht Show runs from 27-30 September.

Specifications of Home:

Length: 50m (49.80m)
Shipyard: Heesen
Guests: 12
Medium: Aluminium
Features: Silent cruise, Hybrid Propulsion, Gym
Exterior Design: Frank Laupman, Omega Architects
Hull Type: Fast Displacement Hull Form, Van Oossanen Naval Architects
Interior Design: Cristiano Gatto, Cristiano Gatto Design
Top Speed: 16.3 knots

5 July 2017

Following five days of sea trials in the North Sea, Home has now been delivered to its new owner.

The 50-metre superyacht is the world’s first Fast Displacement motor yacht equipped with hybrid propulsion.

Heesen Yachts said Home exceeded expectations during sea trials which took place in calm conditions, with waves of up to 0.5 metres and a light breeze.

In a media release, the Dutch ship builder said the 50m all aluminium motor yacht below 500GT with shallow draft “easily exceeded her contractual maximum speed of 16.3 knots in the traditional diesel engine mode, but also in the hybrid ‘quiet mode’”.

“Thanks to two 127kW water-cooled DC electric shaft motors, she also exceeded the predicted speed of 9 knots with noise and vibration levels well below the Specification levels,” continued Heesen.

Home, formerly Project Nova, is not only extremely quiet, but is also highly fuel efficient.

Heesen reports that at 12 knots, the superyacht had a fuel consumption of 98 litres per hour (excluding generators) and at 10 knots in hybrid mode this further reduced to a staggering 45 litres per hour.

“For a 50m yacht, displacing 295 tons and with a Gross Tonnage of 499 is an outstanding achievement,” added the ship builder.

This performance is achieved with just two MTU 12V 2000 M61 engines of 600 kW each, which are smaller than those typically fitted on a yacht of this size.

“This is once again proof of the remarkable efficiency of the Fast Displacement Hull form devised by van Oossanen Naval Architects, engineered by Heesen’s in-house specialists, and perfectly executed by Heesen’s talented team of welders,” stated the ship builder.

Home also exceeded its range predictions, measuring 4,250 miles at 12 knots – 500 more than specified. This was achieved with a fuel capacity of just 45,000 litres.

Home will début at the Monaco Yacht Show from 27-30 September 2017.

21 April 2017

Heesen Yachts has announced that the world’s first Fast Displacement superyacht with hybrid propulsion- Project Nova – has now been christened Home by its new owners.

The 50-metre vessel was officially named during a recent ceremony at the luxury yacht builder’s facility in Oss, The Netherlands.

In a media release, Heesen said that Home was “not only an ultra-efficient, low fuel-burning yacht, but also one of the quietest on the oceans, offering the ultimate luxury: Silent cruise”.

The 50-metre aluminium superyacht it powered by two water cooled DC electric shaft motors, each 127 kW.

This allows Home to cruise at 9 knots using the generators alone, so the crew can leave the harbour without waking the owner and his guests.

A finished Heesen superyacht in a shed ahead of a ceremony

Home’s christening ceremony ahead of sea trials

Home two sources of power for propulsion: diesel mechanical and diesel electrical.

Either source can be used independently or simultaneously, providing less noise and vibration, more flexible power management, and increased efficiency.

With a transatlantic range of 3,750nm at a cruising speed of 12 knots, Home’s top speed is 16.3 knots.

This is achieved with just two MTU 12V, 600 kW each – relatively small engines for a yacht of her size.

The superyacht uses the Fast Displacement Hull Form devised by Van Oossanen and implemented by Heesen’s in-house naval architects.

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The exterior design is by Omega Architects, while the interior is by Cristiano Gatto Design.

The owner’s apartment is located on the main deck forward and includes a private study, a large bathroom with shower stall and a full beam bed room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Guests are accommodated in five luxurious staterooms on the lower deck: two doubles, two twins and one full-beam VIP suite.

The wellness area – with gymnasium and spa – is located on the lower deck aft, adjacent to the engine room, and has convenient direct access to the main deck aft through an internal staircase.

One of the most outstanding areas on board Home is the sky lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows like a veranda overlooking the ocean.

Following her launch, Home will remain in the harbour in Oss to commence commissioning of her systems,.

The vessel will then move to Rotterdam where she will undergo her sea trials and official tests before delivery to her owners in June.

 

11 July 2016

Heesen Yachts has announced that its sold Project Nova.

In a media release, the Dutch superyacht builder said the buyer was a “yacht connoisseur”.

The 50 metre Project Nova has hybrid propulsion, and offers silent cruising.

It draws on two sources of power for propulsion: diesel mechanical and diesel electrical.

Either or both sources can be used at the same time to provide more flexible power management and better efficiency along with less noise and vibration.

It can reach speeds of up to 9 knots in electrical hybrid mode.

It has the Heesen-pioneered fast displacement hull, a concept that was developed with the launch of Galactica Star in 2013.

Unlike Galactica Star, Project Nova is not designed for exceptional high speeds.

Instead, it 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.

 

At 12 knots, the aluminium superyacht consumes 98 litres per hour, excluding the generators, and at 10 knots, this again reduces to 57.5 litres.

This is achieved with a pair of MTU 12V 2000 M61 engines, 600 kW each.

The vessel has a cruising range, at 12 knots, of 3,750 miles; this is achieved with a fuel capacity of just 45,000 litres.

Project Nova’s lines are different from the usual Heesen Yacht, and has a eye-catching aluminium superstructure, vertical bow and spacious fixed aft platform.

The vessel was designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects and interior styling by Sinot Yacht Design.

Panoramic glass walls on the main and upper decks gives the yacht the feel of a beach villa.

Inside, there is a dedicated gym, with separate hammam accessible from the guest corridor and the main deck.

There are six staterooms, including a full beam VIP stateroom on the lower deck. 

It can accommodate nine crew in five cabins.

The traditional owner’s stateroom and main saloon/dining are on the main deck and the upper saloon above.

The interior design echoes the beach style theme of the exterior.

Natural fabrics and materials are used throughout the interior, which is flooded with natural light.

Project Nova is expected to be delivered to its new owner by Summer 2017.