Heesen Yachts launched YN 20750, code-named Project Orion, at the Oss shipyard on 6 December. This 50-metre all-aluminium hybrid yacht is ready for cruising by spring 2025.
‘Project Orion presents a rare opportunity for discerning clients to acquire a superyacht that embodies the unrivalled safety and solidity of Dutch craftmanship, ready to cruise by spring,’ says Ruud van der Stroom, Heesen’s CCO. ‘To have immediate access to such exceptional quality – engineered for both style and security – is truly extraordinary. By summer, Project Orion will be poised to navigate the oceans, setting a new standard for luxury.’
Also read: VIDEO: Heesen lays keel of first yacht in new 50-metre steel class
Hybrid mode
The yacht features the efficient Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF), devised by naval architects Van Oossanen. Combined with lightweight aluminium construction, this design allows for a compact machinery package that optimises propulsion efficiency across all speeds. Power comes from twin MTU 12V 2000 M61 (IMO III) engines, each generating 600kW, propelling the yacht to a top speed of 16.3 knots.
At 12 knots, Orion consumes just 98 litres of fuel per hour, excluding hotel load. In hybrid mode, fuel consumption drops even further to just 45 litres per hour at 10 knots, a remarkable feat for a 50-metre yacht displacing 295 tonnes (light load), according to Heesen.
Also read: VIDEO: Heesen delivers first aluminium yacht in new class
Near-vertical bow
The exterior, designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, features a profile marked by a near-vertical bow and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. This design is both visually striking and functionally superior, offering unparalleled seaworthiness for smooth navigation through waves.
Inside, Italian designer Cristiano Gatto has created an interior that maximises natural light and offers ocean views. The layout includes six staterooms for twelve guests, including a master suite on the main deck, a full-beam VIP cabin, and four additional staterooms on the lower deck. Open bulwarks enhance the sense of space and connection to the sea.
Over the next few months, the yacht’s systems will be commissioned and prepared for intensive testing in the North Sea by mid-February.
Pictures by Heesen.
Also read: VIDEO: Heesen joins hull and superstructure of full-custom yacht
