Heesen Yachts has handed over Azamanta, which is said to be the world’s first fast displacement steel-hulled yacht over 50 m, to her owners in international waters.

The yacht (YN 17255) was delivered on July 10, following intensive sea trials in the North Sea. 

Azamanta’s sea trials took place in moderate sea conditions and with winds that started south-westerly, increasing and turning north-westerly after the passage of a cold front.

Azamanta, whose fast displacement hull form (FDHF) was developed by Van Oossanen in collaboration with Heesen Yachts in-house naval architects, exceeded the contractual speed by 0.4 knots, reaching a top speed of 16.9 knots. Propelling around 600 tonnes of steel and aluminium at 15 knots with only 1650 kW of power, the yacht has proved to be a benchmark in terms of efficiency, says Heesen.

Bilderlings Wealth, representing the owner and managing the project throughout the build, says: “We are very pleased with Azamanta; she is the expression of a passionate and experienced yacht owner who built a yacht to travel the globe and explore exotic destinations. Her ice-reinforced steel hull and her unusual colour scheme will enable her passengers to safely, comfortably and elegantly cruise also in high latitudes.”

The bold exterior design by Omega Architects is characterised by chiselled, sharp lines. The superstructure is adorned by “the shark tooth”, a smart design signature on the overhang of the wheelhouse that lends Azamanta a powerful personality. 

Vertical windows – new to the Heesen’s aesthetics – and numerous glass insertions in the bulwarks allow more natural light to flood the interior and significantly improve the indoor/outdoor connection, offering great views of the sea even when seated in the sky lounge.

Omega’s clean design without fashion plates and supports has been cleverly engineered and meticulously executed by Heesen’s in-house experts; the superstructure aft, for example, is completely free from pillars, offering uninterrupted ocean vistas.

Heesen’s Board of Directors comments: “Azamanta is the third yacht we have delivered this year after the 50-m Sibelle and the 47-m Asya. She is a wonderful example of what owners can achieve when they entrust Heesen to build their superyacht: solid Dutch design, engineering and naval architecture wrapped in unique individual design.”

Founded by Frans Heesen in 1978 in Oss, Heesen Yachts was the first Dutch shipyard to employ aluminium for the yacht hulls. Since then it has become a world leader in design, engineering and construction of high-performance motor-yachts. In 1992 it expanded to include the construction of traditional displacement yachts, and today it delivers superyachts within the 30-80 m size range, and beyond. 

Nine yachts are currently in construction and their deliveries span through to 2018.