Heesen Yachts has marked another milestone with the launch of its latest 57-metre full-custom motor yacht, Project Setteesettanta, from the company’s facility in Oss, the Netherlands. Constructed entirely in aluminium and measuring 920GT, the yacht has been developed for experienced owners who returned to the Dutch shipyard to create a second bespoke vessel tailored to their lifestyle on the water.
The project reflects the owners’ desire to maximise time spent cruising and at anchor with family and friends. Their brief focused on creating a yacht capable of accessing shallower cruising grounds thanks to a 2.3-metre draft, while offering generous exterior living spaces and the comfort needed for extended stays at anchor. Having previously completed a yacht with Heesen, the owners drew on that experience to refine every aspect of the new build around the way they wanted to enjoy life at sea.
Italian designer Cristiano Gatto was responsible for the interior design and also acted as the owners’ representative throughout the construction process.
“To see this project finally afloat is deeply moving. Every element of her interior was conceived from scratch and refined down to the finest detail, with nothing left to chance. She has truly been a labour of love. Drawings and renderings can guide the design process, but nothing compares to the moment when a project becomes reality. Seeing the spaces come to life exactly as envisioned is immensely rewarding, and I am deeply grateful to the owners for the trust they placed in us throughout this remarkable journey.”
– Cristiano Gatto.
The accommodation arrangement has been designed to prioritise owner privacy, with the entire upper deck dedicated to an owner’s suite positioned forward and benefiting from panoramic 180-degree views. The suite also provides direct access to a private terrace of almost 200 square metres, which is designed to serve as a touch-and-go helipad. Elsewhere, the main deck incorporates a VIP suite and a fully equipped gym, while the lower deck houses four additional guest cabins comprising two doubles and two twins. An oval staircase connects all four decks, and large sliding doors link the main-deck dining area with the aft terrace to create a seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces.
The yacht also introduces several technical and design features not previously seen across the Heesen fleet. YN 20857 is the first Heesen yacht to feature its bridge on the fourth deck, creating an additional observation area for the owners without compromising the sleek exterior profile. Designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, the yacht’s mast has been kept deliberately understated, while flat Starlink panels replace traditional satellite domes to preserve the clean lines. At the stern, twin staircases frame a four-metre infinity pool leading down to the swim platform.
Performance was another key consideration during development. Following hull testing at the Wolfson Unit in Southampton, the yacht demonstrated sufficient efficiency to be powered by twin MTU 16V2000M72 engines producing 1,440kW each. This delivers a top speed of 18 knots, alongside a transatlantic cruising range of approximately 3,900 nautical miles at 12 knots. Quantum F45 stabilisers have been installed to enhance comfort both underway and at anchor, while all interior joinery was completed in-house at Heesen’s Winterswijk facility, including marble finishes personally selected by the owners in Verona.
Commenting on the project, Heesen CEO Jeroen van der Meer highlighted the significance of welcoming repeat clients back to the yard.
“It is an honour to welcome these owners back to Heesen for a second yacht. A returning client is the highest compliment a shipyard can receive. Experienced yacht owners arrive with real ambition and set genuine challenges for the yard and its people, and we welcome that, because it is exactly what moves us forward and sharpens our craft. YN 20857 asked a great deal of our engineers and our craftspeople, almost all of it answered in-house, from the naval architecture through to the furniture built by our own luxury carpentry shop in Winterswijk. I am proud of what the team has delivered for her owners.”
– Jeroen van der Meer, CEO of Heesen.
Following her launch, Project Setteesettanta will remain at Heesen’s Oss shipyard while final commissioning work is completed. Sea trials are expected to begin in the North Sea later this summer, with delivery to her owners scheduled for the end of December 2026.
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