Royal Huisman update

Royal Huisman issues an update on its current projects, following investments in equipment and infrastructure.

28 September 2023

Dutch shipbuilder Royal Huisman has released an update on several of its ongoing projects, as the yard prepares to celebrate its 140th anniversary in 2024.

Investments in equipment and infrastructure mean Royal Huisman now has the ability to build supersized sailing yachts up to 100 metres in its five halls. The full-custom sailing and motor yacht builder acknowledges that sustainability is crucial to shipbuilding and that superyacht owners and the marine sector want to play their part.

Unlike most shipyards today, Royal Huisman has been building sailing vessels since it was founded in 1884. When Jan Huisman opened a yard to build small workboats and fishing boats, the hulls were wooden, and so were the clogs the shipwrights wore to stay out of the mud.

While design and build teams are encouraged to make a difference by making their superyachts more efficient, or by adopting renewable energy sources, the yard makes it clear that propulsion by wind will ‘always beat’ the energy consumption of engines, even when great reductions are achieved. In addition, wind energy is free – of charge, of fumes and of noise.

The 47-metre performance cruiser Nilaya was delivered by the shipyard earlier this year. (Photo by Carlo Borlenghi.)

Nilaya is expected to flex its innovations on the Caribbean racing circuit and next summer’s maxi circuit in the Med. (Photo by Carlo Borlenghi.)

Huisfit recently relaunched Atlantide, built in 1930. (Photo by Mike Tesselaar.)

A cosmetic refit of Atlantide turned into a two-year rebuild. (Photo by Mike Tesselaar.)

Huisfit, Royal Huisman’s team for superyacht refit, rebuild and renewal, handled the Atlantide project. (Photo by Mike Tesselaar.)

The contemporary flybridge schooner, Sea Eagle. (Photo by Tim McKenna.)

Royal Huisman's Vollenhove facility handles custom builds. (Photo by Mike Tesselaar.)

“Our investments in equipment and infrastructure – we have five state-of-art main halls – support our quest for continuous innovation,” says CEO Jan Timmerman. “Our team of more than 350 highly skilled people will celebrate our 140th anniversary in 2024 with the ability to build supersized sailing yachts up to 100 metres.

“As a dedicated full custom yacht builder, it is our goal to build for every customer their ultimate expression of personal freedom.”

Over the years, the shipyard team has developed many smart solutions, several of which became industry trendsetters.

Royal Huisman has built 173 aluminium yachts during the last 60 years and added carbon fibre to its capability last century. The shipyard’s latest Featherlight method is a holistic lightweight approach to yacht building, combining various complimentary weight-saving solutions utilising aluminium and carbon fibre components.

Nilaya

Following extensive summer cruising by her owners, Royal Huisman has shared some new previews of Nilaya, the yacht that pioneered Royal Huisman’s Featherlight approach.

This 47-metre / 154-foot state-of-the-art performance cruiser with naval architecture by racing yacht designer Reichel/Pugh and exterior and interior by Nauta Design, was delivered by the shipyard earlier this year.

Continuous weight monitoring throughout the build confirmed the shipyard achieved its goal of slicing 11 percent of the weight of its typical advanced aluminium cruising yachts via this process. Most importantly, it has reduced weight without sacrificing stiffness or cutting corners on quality. Nilaya is expected to flex its innovations on the Caribbean racing circuit and next summer’s maxi circuit in the Med.

Current projects

With important capital investments in shipyard infrastructure, including expanding its hall #2 and the advanced composites hall, Royal Huisman has started the 85m aluminium hull construction of Project 410.

This New World sloop, designed by Mani Frers with an interior by Wetzels Brown, will be the world’s largest sloop once delivered.

In the meantime, the newbuild facilities are also buzzing with the next phase of construction for the 65m ketch Aquarius II for repeat clients, while project 406, the world’s largest true sportfishing yacht, is progressing toward launch.

Huisfit by Royal Huisman

In parallel, Huisfit, Royal Huisman’s team for superyacht refit, rebuild and renewal, is focused on various projects and has recently re-launched Atlantide (1930). What was originally intended as a refit of primarily cosmetic changes, has turned into a two-year rebuild of this historic yacht through meticulous restoration and customisation.

royalhuisman.com