Heesen’s project Sophia, a 50-metre all-aluminium yacht, was launched at the Dutch shipyard’s facility in Oss on the weekend.
According to Heesen, Sophia has a 23-knot maximum speed, weighs in a 499GT and is fully IMO Tier III-compliant. The superyacht boasts a draft of 2.15 metres – the benchmark depth for unrestricted cruising in the Bahamas and some of the world’s most attractive cruising grounds.
Following the launch, the vessel’s systems will be commissioned prior to sea trials in the North Sea, remaining on schedule for delivery in June 2026.
The hard-chine hull features recessed propeller tunnels, enabling shallow-water navigation and a claimed 12 per cent gain in hull efficiency.
Sophia is finished in Whisper Grey by Awlgrip.
Peter van der Zanden, director of design, development and engineering, says: “At Heesen, we believe that smart naval architecture underpins a yacht’s true value. With project Sophia, our engineers have improved hull efficiency by 12 per cent. This is more than a technical metric; it translates directly into lower fuel consumption and a quieter, more enjoyable experience at sea. The result is a highly optimised yacht that reflects our Dutch heritage of building for performance.”
In April 2025, Heesen Yachts was acquired by Dutch entrepreneur and investor Laurens Last.
Powered by two MTU 16V 4000 M65L engines, Sophia offers a transatlantic range of 3,100 nautical miles at 11 knots.
Owing to Heesen’s vertically integrated process, the entire interior fit-out was completed at the yard’s cabinetry workshop in Winterswijk in the Netherlands.
The main deck aft features a shallow pool with floating sun loungers, while the beach club offers tailored stowage for wakeboards and land-exploration bikes, opening directly onto a fold-down swim platform. On the sundeck, a sliding-door windbreaker ensures guests can enjoy these elevated social spaces in total comfort, even while cruising.
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