At Heesen, a new addition to the 55-metre Steel Series is taking shape. Project Venus is the latest addition to the popular series and displays her own “extra twists of personality" that set her apart from the foresisters.
The evolution of the design is something which Heesen finds important to keep its superyacht series fresh and relevant since Heesen is a yard that is best known for staying ahead of the curve. “We always want to make the next yacht better, more customer orientated and attractive for both families and the charter market,” says the yard’s CEO, Arthur Brouwer.
As a result, Project Venus will only share the same GA, specifications and technical elements as her 55-metre Steel Series counterparts. “We have pioneered the construction of superyachts on speculation,” says Mark Cavendish, Heesen’s CCO. “We have mastered the art of building superyachts in small series on proven engineering platforms, and our 55-metre Steel is one of the most successful in our history.”
As Heesen never repeats an interior design, Project Venus features a custom interior design by Luca Dini Design and Architecture in collaboration with Heesen, which features a continual stretch of windows that runs the length of the main deck.
However, true to her project name, the sporty nature of the Heesen 55-metre Steel Series has remained consistent thanks to the work of exterior design studio Omega Architects. Frank Laupman, yacht designer at Omega Architects, has also given the range a distinctive exterior "shark tooth" motif behind the wheelhouse. “The shark tooth is where the line comes down from the sundeck and meets at a vertical point together with the curve of the wheelhouse overhang,” Laupman explains. The forward-thinking designer and architect has helped evolve Heesen’s line of clear-cut 55-metre superyachts since 2015.
Once launched and delivered in 2025, Project Venus will not only stand out for her sturdy yet elegant profile but for the following key features:
Spacious layout
With a volume of 760GT, Project Venus is packed with all the latest features and design innovations. Inside, her soon-to-be-owner and guests will find a main saloon and a skylounge that both make use of the yacht’s full 9.6-metre beam. Unique to a yacht of this size, the owner’s suite also spreads across the beam on the main deck forward. The 82-square-metre space sports a French balcony on the starboard side. This secluded outdoor seating area is perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or evening cocktail with a view.
With a further five guest cabins on board for a total of 12 guests, the interior layout has a focus on giving guests enough space and privacy in a luxurious setting. The décor is elegant, uncomplicated and contemporary, with warm-coloured natural materials such as leather, marble, and wood used throughout.
Comfortable cruising
Project Venus was designed with the ultra-performing FDHF hull devised by van Oossanen Naval Architects and honed to perfection by Heesen engineers. The two MTU4000 M63 IMO Tier III engines will propel her to a maximum speed of 15.5 knots and provide a transatlantic range of 4,500 nautical miles when travelling at 13 knots.
The steel Fast Displacement Hull Form ensures the yacht is extremely efficient throughout her entire speed range and moves comfortably in all sea conditions. To complete the package, a fin stabilisation system will reduce the yacht's motion at anchor and underway.
Al fresco lifestyle
Once guests move from the interior, they will find several outdoor spaces designed for entertainment and relaxation. Crowning the yacht, the sundeck will be home to a Jacuzzi and a lounge area where guests can kick back and soak up the views and the lifestyle. Meanwhile, the beach club is set to be a key area on the lower deck and will feature a bar area and easy water access. The location of the yacht’s tenders on the forward section, with deployment and retrieval completed via a crane, affords a lot more space in the aft for guests’ enjoyment. By using an app downloaded to guests’ phones or tablets, the mood can be set in any of the guest spaces thanks to the high-tech audio-visual systems.
Versatile design
The proven platform of the 55-metre Steel Series has appealed to a wide range of owners. “Project Venus is a good yacht for an adventure,” says Mark van Heffen, Heesen’s marketing director. “She’d certainly appeal to an owner wanting to cruise in a sporty way, but can also take it easy in the Bahamas and make the most of her shallow draft.”
If like her sistership, Moskito, Project Venus’ new owner would opt to make her available for charter, her straightforward, family-friendly design would appeal to many charterers across the globe.
To find out more about Project Venus, currently for sale, and any other of Heesen’s on-spec projects, contact the yard directly here.
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