Heesen Yachts

Heesen Yachts is a Dutch shipbuilding company headquartered in Oss that designs and constructs custom and semi-custom luxury superyachts. Founded in 1978 by entrepreneur Frans Heesen, the company developed from a shipyard site acquired for another potential business into an internationally recognized builder of large motor yachts. Its portfolio spans high-speed aluminum yachts, steel-hulled long-range vessels, fast-displacement designs, hybrid-powered yachts, sport-fishing yachts and large bespoke projects. The yard’s early identity was shaped by performance engineering. Its first yacht carrying the Heesen name, the 20-metre Amigo, was launched in 1979. The company’s decisive breakthrough came in 1988 with Octopussy, a 44-metre yacht commissioned by American entrepreneur John Staluppi. Using three MTU engines and three waterjets, the yacht exceeded its contractual 50-knot target and recorded a reported top speed of 53.17 knots, making it the fastest superyacht of its time. The project established Heesen as a builder capable of applying advanced propulsion and lightweight construction to vessels far larger than conventional fast boats. During the 1990s, Heesen broadened its product and engineering base. By 1990 it had built more than 25 yachts over 27 metres in length. In 1992 it entered the traditional-displacement and long-range market with steel construction, while the 1996 delivery of Obsession expanded its presence in large sport-fishing yachts. In the 2000s the shipyard introduced shared-hull and engineering platforms, including the 3700 and 4400 series, and expanded its facilities to support larger projects. Heesen is especially associated with aluminum construction and the Fast Displacement Hull Form developed with naval-architecture partners. The approach seeks to combine the speed of a planing yacht with the efficiency and range of a displacement vessel. Galactica Star, launched in 2013, demonstrated the concept at 65 metres, while later projects applied it to both aluminum and steel yachts. The yard has also used Hull Vane stern foils, hybrid propulsion, advanced waterjets, emission-reduction equipment and other efficiency-focused technologies. Home, delivered in 2017, combined a fast-displacement hull with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion. The company has delivered numerous award-winning yachts, including Satori, Galactica Star, Galactica Super Nova and Irisha. Its large projects include the 80.07-metre Project Cosmos, delivered as Genesis in 2023, and the steel yacht Project Sparta, also launched in 2023. The shipyard works with external design studios and naval architects while maintaining substantial in-house capabilities in engineering, aluminum construction, interior production and finishing. Its nearby Winterswijk interiors facility complements the Oss shipyard. Heesen was sold by Frans Heesen to Russian businessman Vagit Alekperov in 2008. Frans Heesen retired from the company in 2012. On 9 April 2025, it was announced that Dutch billionaire Laurens Last had acquired Heesen Yachts for an undisclosed amount. Frans Heesen died in Oss on 23 April 2025. The company continues to operate as an independent Dutch superyacht builder, serving a global clientele through custom projects and platform-based yacht ranges.

Heesen Yachts was established in 1978 when Frans Heesen acquired the former Striker Boats shipyard site in Oss. Heesen had originally considered the property for another business connected to his plastics interests, but retained its shipbuilding function and developed it into a yacht operation. The first yacht to carry the Heesen name was Amigo, a 20-metre luxury yacht launched in 1979. The company’s defining early achievement was Octopussy, completed in 1988 for American entrepreneur John Staluppi. The project sought to exceed 50 knots in a large yacht, a demanding target at a time when even 25 knots was considered exceptional for a vessel of that size. With three MTU engines, three KaMeWa waterjets and naval-architecture work associated with Frank Mulder, Octopussy reached 53.17 knots. The result made it the fastest superyacht then recorded and gave Heesen a distinctive reputation for speed, lightweight construction and unconventional engineering solutions. Heesen consolidated that reputation during the 1990s. By 1990 the yard had built more than 25 yachts longer than 27 metres. Mirage, launched in 1991, continued the high-speed waterjet tradition. In 1992 the company expanded into traditional displacement and long-range yachts, including steel-hulled construction, while Achiever was developed in collaboration with Oceanco. In 1996 Heesen delivered the 37-metre Obsession, then described as the world’s largest sport-fishing yacht, extending the company’s capabilities beyond conventional superyacht cruising designs. The early twenty-first century brought both facility expansion and greater use of repeatable engineering platforms. The 3700 and 4400 series, launched in 2003, were among the yard’s early applications of shared hull and engineering concepts. A new construction facility was developed, followed by further infrastructure investment. The Oss site later gained an enlarged dry dock and construction hall, enabling yachts of up to approximately 83 metres. Heesen also developed an interiors production operation in Winterswijk, allowing more of the yacht-building process to be managed within the company’s Dutch manufacturing network. In 2008 Frans Heesen sold the company to Russian billionaire Vagit Alekperov for a reported amount, though that transaction value is not included here as it is not necessary to describe the brand. Heesen continued to expand its high-performance range and adopted Fast Displacement Hull Form technology in cooperation with naval-architecture specialists. Galactica Star, launched in 2013, was a 65-metre aluminum yacht capable of approximately 28.8 knots and became one of the company’s most recognized projects. The 55-metre Azamanta demonstrated that the same general hull philosophy could be applied to a steel yacht over 50 metres. The company’s research and development work also addressed efficiency. Alive, delivered in 2014, combined a fast-displacement hull with a Hull Vane stern foil developed with Van Oossanen. The foil was intended to reduce resistance and improve seakeeping. Home, delivered in 2017, paired a fast-displacement hull with hybrid propulsion using electric shaft motors alongside diesel engines. This made it an important demonstration of Heesen’s interest in reducing fuel use without abandoning performance. Frans Heesen retired from the company in 2012, 35 years after its foundation. The yard subsequently delivered several notable projects, including Galactica Super Nova in 2016 and Home in 2017. Galactica Super Nova was a 70-metre aluminum fast-displacement yacht with a reported top speed of about 30 knots. In 2018 construction began on Project Falcon, described as the yard’s largest steel displacement yacht project at that stage. The following year Heesen announced the Xventure explorer range with Winch Design and confirmed the sale of Project Skyfall, a 59-metre yacht designed around four waterjets and a combined output of 22,000 horsepower. Heesen also pursued very large and technically ambitious projects. Project Sparta was a 67-metre steel fast-displacement yacht designed by Winch Design, with a long-range layout, a raised pilothouse and a large aft pool. Project Cosmos, begun in 2019, grew to 80.07 metres and became the largest project in the company’s history. Its aluminum Fast Displacement Hull Form required a patented longitudinal Backbone structure to provide additional stiffness. The project also used Rolls-Royce’s Promas system, integrating propulsion and steering functions to improve hydrodynamic efficiency. It was delivered as Genesis in 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heesen adopted new workplace procedures intended to protect employees and comply with government requirements while keeping construction schedules moving. The company supplemented conventional client and press activity with virtual tours, online briefings and YachtTalk digital programming. In the early 2020s the yard maintained a substantial construction schedule, with projects involving a range of international design studios and a reported concentration of Dutch production and subcontracting. On 9 April 2025, Laurens Last was announced as the buyer of Heesen Yachts. The purchase amount was not disclosed. Frans Heesen died in Oss on 23 April 2025. Heesen remains an active Dutch builder of custom and semi-custom superyachts, with its market identity grounded in bespoke design, high-speed aluminum engineering, steel long-range construction and increasingly sophisticated efficiency technologies.

1. 2025Laurens Last acquires Heesen Yachts

   Laurens Last was announced as the company’s new owner; the transaction value was undisclosed.

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2. 2023Genesis delivered

   Project Cosmos was completed and delivered under the name Genesis.

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3. 2019Project Cosmos construction begins

   Heesen began building its largest project, an 80.07-metre aluminum yacht later delivered as Genesis.

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4. 2017Home introduces hybrid fast-displacement propulsion

   Home combined a fast-displacement hull with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion.

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5. 2013Galactica Star launches

   The 65-metre Galactica Star showcased Heesen’s Fast Displacement Hull Form and high-performance aluminum construction.

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6. 2008Ownership transferred to Vagit Alekperov

   Frans Heesen sold the shipyard to Russian businessman Vagit Alekperov.

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7. 2003Shared-hull yacht series and facility expansion

   Heesen introduced the 3700 and 4400 series and expanded its construction capacity.

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8. 1996Obsession expands the sport-fishing range

   The 37-metre Obsession entered the large sport-fishing yacht segment.

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9. 1992Expansion into steel displacement yachts

   Heesen broadened its portfolio to traditional-displacement, long-range steel-hulled yachts.

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10. 1988Octopussy sets a superyacht speed benchmark

    The 44-metre Octopussy exceeded 50 knots and recorded a reported 53.17-knot top speed.

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11. 1979Amigo becomes the first yacht bearing the Heesen name

    The 20-metre Amigo was launched as the first yacht to carry the Heesen name.

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12. 1978Heesen Yachts founded

    Frans Heesen established the yacht-building company in Oss after acquiring the former Striker Boats shipyard site.

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High-end custom superyacht builder combining Dutch shipbuilding, lightweight aluminum construction, high-speed propulsion, bespoke interiors and efficiency-oriented naval architecture.

• Custom superyachtsLuxury motor yachts1978

  Heesen’s core offering is the design and construction of bespoke motor superyachts. Projects are developed around individual owner requirements and combine naval architecture, propulsion engineering, exterior styling, interior design and specialized onboard amenities. The yard works with both its own technical teams and external design studios, allowing each yacht to be differentiated while retaining Heesen’s construction and performance expertise.

• Fast Displacement Hull Form yachtsHigh-performance superyachts2013

  Fast Displacement Hull Form yachts are designed to deliver higher speed than conventional displacement vessels while maintaining improved efficiency and range compared with fully planing designs. Heesen has applied this approach to aluminum and steel yachts of different sizes, using lightweight construction, advanced hydrodynamics and high-output propulsion systems.

• Aluminum superyachtsAluminum yacht construction1978

  Aluminum construction is one of Heesen’s principal technical specialties. Lower structural weight supports high performance and can be paired with fast-displacement hulls. The company’s aluminum portfolio includes performance-oriented yachts such as Galactica Star, Galactica Super Nova and Genesis, the yacht formerly known as Project Cosmos.

• Steel displacement yachtsLong-range motor yachts1992

  Heesen expanded into steel-hulled displacement yachts in the early 1990s. These vessels emphasize long-range cruising, robust construction and large interior volumes. Later projects such as Sparta and Lusine combined steel construction with modern fast-displacement or performance-oriented engineering concepts.

• Hybrid-powered yachtsHybrid propulsion yachts2017

  Heesen’s hybrid yacht work combines conventional diesel engines with electric shaft motors. Home, delivered in 2017, was a prominent example, using hybrid operation to support quieter and more economical cruising while retaining the ability to operate at higher speeds with conventional propulsion.

• Sport-fishing yachtsSpecialty motor yachts1996

  Heesen has built large sport-fishing yachts in addition to cruising superyachts. Obsession, delivered in 1996, was a 37-metre example that demonstrated the yard’s ability to adapt high-performance construction and specialist layouts to sport-fishing use.

• 2020YachtTalk by Heesen

  Worldwide

  During the COVID-19 period, Heesen developed digital communication initiatives including a talk-show format called YachtTalk, alongside virtual tours, online briefings and other remote client and media activities.

  Outcome. The initiative provided alternative ways to present projects and maintain communication while normal travel and events were disrupted.

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• 2025Transfer ownership to Laurens LastM&A

  After years under previous ownership, Heesen entered a new ownership phase under Dutch billionaire Laurens Last.

  What changed. Last acquired Heesen Yachts in a transaction announced on 9 April 2025. The consideration was not disclosed.

  Aftermath. Heesen continued operating as an active Dutch superyacht builder under its new owner.

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• 2019Begin Project CosmosProduct launch

  Heesen pursued a flagship project larger than any yacht it had previously undertaken, while retaining a high-speed aluminum performance objective.

  What changed. Construction began on the 80.07-metre Project Cosmos, incorporating a patented Backbone structural element and Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion technology.

  Aftermath. The project was completed as Genesis in 2023 and became the largest yacht delivered by Heesen.

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• 2017Deliver Home with hybrid propulsionProduct launch

  Heesen was exploring ways to reduce fuel consumption and improve low-speed cruising without sacrificing performance capability.

  What changed. The yard delivered Home, a 50-metre yacht combining a Fast Displacement Hull Form with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion.

  Aftermath. Home became an important reference project for Heesen’s efficiency and alternative-propulsion work.

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• 2013Adopt Fast Displacement Hull Form at larger scaleGeneration change

  Heesen sought to combine the speed of performance yachts with the efficiency and range of displacement vessels.

  What changed. The company launched Galactica Star, a 65-metre aluminum yacht using Fast Displacement Hull Form technology.

  Aftermath. The yacht became a high-profile demonstration of Heesen’s approach and was followed by additional fast-displacement projects.

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• 2003Introduce shared-hull and engineering platformsStrategy

  The yard needed to increase production capability while continuing to offer high-end yachts based on proven technical foundations.

  What changed. Heesen launched the 3700 and 4400 series and expanded its construction facilities.

  Aftermath. The platform approach complemented fully custom projects and supported growth in the company’s yacht range.

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• 1992Enter the steel displacement and long-range yacht marketStrategy

  Heesen had become known for fast aluminum yachts but sought to broaden its product range beyond performance-focused vessels.

  What changed. The company began constructing traditional-displacement, long-range steel-hulled yachts, including the 50-metre Achiever project developed with Oceanco.

  Aftermath. The move expanded Heesen’s addressable market and created a foundation for later steel superyacht projects.

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• 1988Accept the Octopussy 50-knot performance challengeProduct launch

  John Staluppi commissioned a large yacht intended to exceed 50 knots, an unusually demanding target for a vessel of its size.

  What changed. Heesen used three MTU engines, three KaMeWa waterjets and a lightweight performance-oriented design to build the 44-metre Octopussy.

  Aftermath. Octopussy reached a reported 53.17 knots and became the fastest superyacht recorded at the time, establishing Heesen’s high-performance reputation.

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• 2025Laurens Last announced as buyer of Heesen Yachts

  Dutch billionaire Laurens Last was announced as the new owner of Heesen Yachts in April 2025. The purchase price was not disclosed.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2025Founder Frans Heesen dies in Oss

  Frans Heesen, who founded the shipyard in 1978, died peacefully in his hometown of Oss on 23 April 2025.

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• 2023Heesen delivers Genesis

  Project Cosmos, the shipyard’s largest project to date at 80.07 metres, was delivered under the name Genesis in August 2023.

  Product launch
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• 2023Project Sparta launched

  The 67-metre Project Sparta, Heesen’s largest steel yacht project at the time, was launched after a multi-year construction program.

  Product launch
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• 2020Heesen responds to COVID-19 disruption with new working and communications practices

  The shipyard introduced revised workplace procedures and virtual client and media engagement, including online tours, briefings and YachtTalk programming, while continuing construction during the pandemic.

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1. Heesen Yachts
2. Heesen Yachts official website