A new yacht built by Heesen Yachts has been christened Asya by its owners, who will take delivery of the vessel this month.

Project YN 16947, a 47-m displacement yacht, was launched at Heesen’s facility in Oss, the Netherlands, in December where the owners, during a private ceremony, christened her Asya.

Asya’s exterior design combines beautiful traditional lines with a contemporary flair emphasised by the continuous glued glass windows and matching black paintwork on the main deck and upper decks all from the board of the highly talented Frank Laupman of Omega Architects.

Her sophisticated interior from the London-based and multi-award winning studio Bannenberg & Rowell has a distinctly Far Eastern, restful feel, inspired by the designs of Dieter Rams, Frank Lloyd-Wright and Tadao Ando. Simplicity as the ultimate form of sophistication is the guiding principle of Asya’s interior design. 

It combines silver-grey oiled oak, mid-gloss lacquer, silk and bronze with contrasting dark Makassar ebony and polished stainless steel detailing and accents.

Thanks to her well-engineered steel hull with bulbous bow, Asya will ensure a smooth path through water, and will be the perfect home away from home in all sea conditions. Two MTU diesel engines 8V 4000 M63, will allow her to reach a maximum speed of 15 knots, and at 12 knots will allow her to have a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

Since her launch, Asya remained at Oss harbour for final construction and commissioning of all her systems and was to undergo extensive sea trails in the North Sea, before being delivered to her owners this month.

Founded by Frans Heesen in 1978 in Oss, Heesen Yachts was the first Dutch shipyard to employ aluminium alloy for the building of yacht hulls. Since then the yard has become a world leader in the design, engineering and construction of high performance, all-aluminium motor yachts. 

In 1992 Heesen Yachts expanded their business to include the construction of traditional displacement, long-range steel-hulled yachts, and today the company can also deliver magnificent private yachts within the 34- to 75-m range, and beyond. 

In 35 years it has delivered nearly 170 yachts. The current fleet includes aluminium, steel, displacement, semi-displacement and the new revolutionary fast displacement. Eleven yachts are currently under construction and their deliveries continue through to 2017. 

Heesen says it is financially secure, large enough to cope with complex construction, small enough to care about each project, motivated to pioneer innovations and dedicated to continuing the tradition of Dutch quality shipbuilding.