On January 21, 2025 Heesen’s Project Orion made its grand exit from the outfitting shed, preparing for sea trials. This 50-metre superyacht, whose construction began at the Oss shipyard in 2022 as YN 20750, has a shallow draft and a sub-500 GT enclosed volume, and is powered by Heesen’s hybrid propulsion system, which delivers the ultimate luxury in yachting: silent cruising.
Heesen’s 50m FHDF series is not only ultra-quiet but also extremely fuel efficient. At 12 knots, Orion will consume 98 litres per hour excluding hotel load, while at 10 knots in hybrid mode, consumption falls to a mere 45 litres per hour. For a 50m yacht displacing 295 tons, this is an outstanding achievement.
The launch
This impressive performance will be achieved with two MTU 12V 2000 M61 (IMO III) engines of just 600kW each. These are more compact than those typically fitted on a yacht of this size, which demonstrates the remarkable efficiency of the Fast Displacement Hull Form devised by Van Oossanen Naval Architects, engineered by the shipyard’s in-house specialists, and perfectly executed by Heesen’s talented welders. A lightweight build and meticulous weight control are essential to achieving this impressive performance. Heesen is renowned for its mastery of aluminium yacht construction.
Frank Laupman of Omega Architects penned the perfect image for this ultra-technological yacht. This series boasts a striking profile with a near-vertical bow and large floor-to-ceiling windows.
Italian designer Cristiano Gatto has created a unique contemporary interior design, making the most out of bright internal spaces, ablazed with natural light, that offer sweeping views of the surrounding seascape thanks to open bulwarks. The six-stateroom layout, with the master on the main deck forward, a full beam VIP, and two double and two twin staterooms on the lower deck, make this yacht ideal for both private and charter use.