It’s full steam ahead for Heesen.
The Dutch shipyard has completed its first delivery of 2026, with four superyachts totaling over 530 feet and nearly 2,180 GT expected to hit the seas this year.
Christened Pa’lante, colloquial Spanish for “forward” or “ahead,” the new 180-footer is rooted in the yard’s “Smart Custom” design ethos, giving the owner a proven platform that they can personalize without adding to the construction time. It is essentially a semi-custom cruiser that sits squarely between a production boat and a one-off. The 237-foot Project Ananda, which will become Heesen’s largest steel superyacht upon delivery in 2030, will also be based on the Smart Custom platform.
“A successful speculative build programme requires absolute confidence in naval architecture and engineering, disciplines we maintain entirely in-house,” Heesen CEO Jeroen van der Meer said in a statement. “By continually refining a proven steel platform with operational data, we optimise both efficiency and reliability. Such a rigorous approach guarantees uncompromising quality while significantly reducing delivery times.”
A bird’s-eye view of the superyacht.
Ruben Griffioen
No two Smart Custom yachts are alike. Pa’lante combines Heesen’s elegant design DNA with sturdy steel construction, enabling it to travel long distances in style. The yacht features sleek exterior lines by Omega Architects, with an optimized fast-displacement steel hull by Van Oossanen that ensures both comfort and efficiency.
Powered by twin MTU engines, Pa’lante has a top speed of 15.5 knots, a cruising speed of 12 knots, and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 11 knots. It also has a draft of just under 9 feet, meaning it can navigate the shallow waters of the Mediterranean ports with ease.
The aft deck.
Ruben Griffioen
With a beam of roughly 31 feet, Pa’lante offers a generous interior volume of approximately 760 GT. The luxurious living quarters, brought to life by Italian design firm Luca Dini, showcase vast, floor-to-ceiling windows that invite the outside world in. A traditional palette of light hues and rich mahogany is contrasted by striped textiles in bold colors, giving the classic decor a slight contemporary twist. The yacht can sleep a total of 12 guests, with an expansive owner’s suite and terrace forward on the main deck, a VIP on the bridge deck, and four guest cabins (two doubles and two twins) on the lower deck.
Following her successful sea trials in the North Sea, Pa’lante is currently departing the Netherlands for her shakedown cruise. She will begin her maiden voyage in the Mediterranean in the summer, after which she will make her official debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
