After intensive tests in the North Sea, Heesen Yachts has delivered YN 20150 Cinderella Noel IV. The 50-metre yacht is built on Heesen’s proven engineering platform as a smart custom yacht.
The owners christened their yacht on December 23, 2023. Collaborating closely with Heesen’s engineers and the Luca Dini Design and Architecture team, the owners have realised their ambition to build the perfect yacht for extended cruising in the Scandinavian archipelago and Norwegian fjords.
The yacht exceeded all expectations during three days of sea trials in the North Sea, even in rough weather conditions. The shipyard’s captain Bob van Zundert comments: ‘The weather worsened during the course of the tests and we ended up with wave heights increasing to 2.6 metres and wind speeds up to around 30 knots. Conditions were perfect to test the handling of Cinderella Noel IV. Its swift responses to helm and throttle commands in rough sea conditions generated a lot of confidence.’
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Hybrid propulsion
To minimise the vessel’s environmental impact, the owner has opted for a hybrid propulsion system. Heesen’s hybrid system offers advantages over traditional diesel propulsion and will ensure that Cinderella Noel IV is cleaner, quieter, and more efficient than comparable conventional craft.
The hybrid drivetrain can draw on diesel engines and electric motors for both propulsion and hotel needs. In automotive engineering, such systems emphasise energy saving and reducing emissions, but hybrid propulsion at sea has broader aims. Silent cruising and minimal vibration enormously enhance comfort levels on board and are especially appealing during night passages.
The heart of the hybrid system is the yacht’s twin MTU 8V4000 M63 (IMO Tier III) main engines, each coupled to a water-cooled, 135kW Danfoss electric motor on the same propeller shaft. Thanks to its three cruising modes, this configuration offers versatility of operations, flexible power management, and redundancy.
Picture by Ruben Griffioen.
Also read: VIDEO: Heesen launches 50-metre steel yacht Cinderella Noel IV
