The 56m superyacht Galvas delivered by Heesen

Mediterranean-bound: the 56m Galvas is Heesen’s third delivery this year.

The 56m Galvas, the latest delivery from Dutch superyacht builder Heesen Yachts, is currently on route to the Mediterranean for the summer season, after sea trials in the North Sea.

Formerly known as Project Neptune, the vessel, powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M63 diesel engines coupled with the FDHF steel hull, has a top speed of 15 knots and cruises at 13 knots. Displacing 620t, Galvas has a range of 3,400 nautical miles and can accommodate 12 guests with a crew of 13.

Galvas is the second yacht in Heesen’s fleet to comply with the latest emissions regulations thanks to a SCR catalytic system that reduces NOx exhaust emissions.

British designers contributed significantly to the project, with Jonny Horsfield of British firm H2 designing the superyacht’s profile. Design studio Reymond Langton was responsible for the interior design comprising custom artworks by DKT throughout the yacht.

The yacht’s design features tenders stored on the forward deck. Covered by hatches they remain invisible from the profile.

‘Design freedom and performance capabilities’

“Galvas is a shining example of the design freedom and performance capabilities made available to clients who opt for one of Heesen’s proven engineering platforms,” according to the luxury yacht builder. “This choice provides the opportunity to express creativity in the exterior lines, paired with a layout that perfectly complements an individual lifestyle, and completed by an interior design …”.

The vessel is compliant with Lloyds’ category 100A1 SSC Yacht LMC Large Commercial Yacht LY3 and IMO Tier III.

Over the next three to five years, Heesen will continue to show stable growth both in gross tonnage and in length of yacht built, said Heesen CEO Arthur Brouwer in January. “We still see the 50m, sub-500GT as a very important product and market for us,” he said.

“But we have built sheds and docks where we can operate between 50m and 60m in order to optimise the length and volume of boats we build to create the maximum capacity of opportunities for ourselves. We have, for example, been very successful with the 55m design, and of course there is our custom-build programme particularly in the 60m to 80m size range.”

Third yacht delivered by Heesen

Galvas is the third yacht delivered by Heesen this year. Earlier this month Heesen launched YN 18650 Project Boreas, a 50m full-aluminum fast displacement hull form vessel. Powered by twin MTU 12V 2000 M72 engines (rated at 1,080kW each), Project Boreas will reach a top speed of nearly 20 knots.

Cruising at 12 knots the yacht will have a transatlantic range of 3,750 nautical miles and fuel consumption of about 98 litres an hour – excluding generators. Project Boreas will remain at the shipyard for commissioning and will then depart to Hellevoetsluis on the Dutch Voorne-Putten Island for the sea trials. Project Boreas is scheduled for delivery next month.

The other two deliveries were: YN 18750 Masa, from the builder’s 5000 Aluminum Class, and YN 18455 Vida, formerly known as Project Antares.

Meanwhile, in June last year, Heesen delivered the 50m YN 18250 White, featuring two MTU 2,880kW allowing for a maximum contractual speed of 23 knots.

Galvas – at a glance

• Length: 56m
• Top speed: 15 knots
• Cruise speed: 13 knots
• Range: 3,400 nautical miles
• Displacement: 620t
• Beam: 9.6m
• Guests:12
• Guest cabins: six
• Crew: 13.