MONTE-CARLO AT MONACO

Heesen revealed its latest superyacht project at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, with the steel FDHF 62-metre design being given the apt name of Project MonteCarlo. The Dutch superyacht builder announced the new design at press conference at the Hotel Hermitage, setting the tone for this grand, ambitious superyacht project.

DESIGN

Renowned British studio Harrison Eidsgaard was given the brief to create a clean, modern look for Project Monte-Carlo, one that will appeal to the next generation of superyacht owners who require style, the clever use of space, privacy and cutting edge technology.

The four-deck yacht will be one of the yard’s largest yachts by volume ever built in Oss. Heesen’s CEO, Niels Vaessen, explained that the design is a direct response to trends they are currently seeing in the market. “It is unusual for us to build a fourdecker, but we have several requests for such a yacht from former clients, so it made sense to create one. We are addressing a key market of owners that are looking to maximise space and experience on board to share with family and friends.” 

LUXURY

By maximizing the expansive space provided by its four-deck design, Project Monte-Carlo will feature an entire deck dedicated to Owner. An entire Owner’s deck on a 62-metre design was considered extravagant 10 years ago, but post-pandemic, Owners have been spending extended periods of time working and living on board, and require/deserve as much space as possible. Because of this, Monte-Carlo Owner’s deck includes a luxurious master suite along with a generously sized office.

Designer Peder Eidsgaard highlighted that the owner’s deck offers supreme privacy and could be utilised in different ways depending on their preference. “It is a very open master suite, with the bathtub, shower and office all interconnected,” he said. “The benefit of this arrangement is that an incoming owner can easily toy with the space devoted to each area. The potential is huge; you expand the master suite to include a private foredeck with its own sundeck, jacuzzi and a fold-down balcony to starboard. From his/her office, the owner can walk straight out onto the balcony and take a seat.” Uniquely, the guest accommodation is entirely on the Main Deck forward and consists of four large staterooms and a fifth full beam VIP stateroom. 

CONNECTION WITH THE SEA

Often, the larger the superyacht, the further it is away from the sea. Project Monte-Carlo, however, has been created to allow the Owners and guests to feel a constant connection to the water. A large 23-square-metre pool, with glass sides giving the impression the impression of swimming in the sea and fold-down wings on the aft deck that allow guests to sit right over the water. Other key spaces include a beach lounge on the main deck, where low-slung sofas offer an informal dining area for up to 14 guests, with sliding doors again connecting the yacht to its surroundings. There is also a firepit observation lounge under the mast, an outdoor kitchen, and a semi-open sky lounge seating area, including a hidden pop-up TV for movie nights.

HOLISTIC LIVING

Wellness is now an integral part of superyacht design, and Project Monte-Carlo features a dedicated centre on the lower deck, featuring a large gym, sauna, hammam and massage or beauty room.

Sustainability is another important aspect of superyacht design, as is being environmentally friendly. In line with this and Heesen’s BlueNautech strategy, Monte-Carlo is technically enabled for serial hybrid propulsion, with space for a large battery bank. She also has a methanol-ready tank layout for future conversion to hydrogen combustion or even a fuel cell. This efficiency enables the fast displacement hull form to cruise a 12-knots, but the power train can manage up to 16 knots.

Peter Van Der Zanden, Heesen’s General Manager for Design & Development concluded: “We see that our owners are increasingly interested in minimising their environmental impact. By planning the yacht around tried-and-tested green solutions, we are helping them make good decisions that don’t add much time and cost to the build.”