The yacht's name is derived from the Sanskrit word for "inner joy," a theme that underpins many aspects of the design, from the guest arrival sequence to the extensive wellness facilities and adaptable living arrangements. Developed in partnership with Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, the 1,750GT project represents one of the largest and most ambitious yachts ever undertaken by Heesen Yachts.
The First Yacht in Heesen's Smart Custom Era
Project Ananda marks a significant evolution in Heesen's approach to speculative construction. While the yacht is being built on speculation, the Smart Custom concept has been developed to bridge the gap between a fully custom project and a traditional series yacht. The platform provides owners with a completed engineering package while preserving extensive opportunities for personalization throughout the build process.
Designed by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, the exterior introduces a softer and more organic interpretation of Heesen's signature profile. The design emerged from an early collaboration between Sinot and Heesen's in-house engineering team, ensuring the visual concept could be executed without compromising technical performance or construction efficiency.
At 72 metres, Project Ananda marks a significant step forward in Heesen’s engineering capabilities, pushing the boundaries of speculation-built yachts while reinforcing the shipyard’s focus on owner and guest wellbeing, exceptional build quality, and unparalleled seakeeping."
Heesen
At 72.3 meters and with a gross tonnage of approximately 1,750 GT, Project Ananda will be built on an ultra-fuel-efficient steel hull and spread across five decks, making her one of the largest yachts currently under construction at the Oss shipyard.
Private Retreats and Elevated Wellbeing
The beach club and spa complex spans approximately 100 square meters and has been developed in collaboration with Heesen's human health engineering department, reflecting a growing focus on health-oriented amenities in modern superyacht design.
The facility includes a sauna, steam room, snow shower, ice bath, hyperbaric chamber, massage suite, medical treatment room and dedicated refreshment area.
Rather than treating wellness as a secondary feature, the design brings these spaces together in a cohesive environment intended to support long-term health, recovery and relaxation while at sea.
Beyond the wellness areas, the motor yacht's social spaces emphasize a strong connection between interior and exterior environments. A standout feature is the travertine-clad pool area, which connects directly to a Teppanyaki-style bar located within the main lounge. Heesen has selected travertine flooring in place of traditional teak, extending the same material from the exterior deck into the fully openable interior lounge to create a continuous visual flow and reinforce the contemporary character of the design.
The flush deck layout further enhances this clean aesthetic, with mooring equipment concealed from view to create uncluttered exterior spaces that can easily transition between private relaxation areas and large-scale entertainment venues. All interior spaces will be built by Heesen Interiors at the company's dedicated Winterswijk facility, continuing the vertically integrated approach the yard has increasingly emphasized across recent projects.
Two Distinct Visions for the Owner's Deck
Owners can choose between two different configurations for the dedicated Owner's Deck, either prioritizing a private forward-facing retreat or creating an aft-focused deck experience centered on outdoor living. Both arrangements have been conceived as highly adaptable spaces that can be tailored to individual lifestyles.
The primary owner's suite occupies a privileged foredeck position and has been designed as a private apartment, complete with panoramic views and a dedicated office. In a notable departure from traditional yacht layouts, a second master suite on the Bridge Deck mirrors the size and comfort of the primary accommodation.
The arrangement removes the usual hierarchy between guest accommodations while creating additional flexibility for charter use, extended family cruising, or multi-generational ownership.
An Arrival Experience Designed Around Privacy
One of the yacht's most distinctive features is its guest arrival sequence. Rather than entering through traditional social spaces, guests arrive via a midships shell door that opens onto a dedicated docking platform. From there, they are guided directly into a central glass elevator that serves all five decks.
The arrangement transforms a practical boarding operation into a private and carefully choreographed arrival experience while reducing disruption to guests already on board. The yacht's overall layout follows the same philosophy, creating distinct layers of privacy between owner, guest, and crew areas while maintaining smooth circulation throughout the vessel.
Tested, Validated and Ready for Construction
The yacht will be powered by twin MTU 12V4000 M65L IMO Tier III engines paired with PTI/PTO gearboxes as part of a hybrid propulsion system. The arrangement enables silent cruising for up to four hours while reducing fuel consumption and onboard noise during normal operations. Project Ananda is expected to achieve a top speed of 16 knots and deliver a transoceanic range of approximately 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.
Before unveiling the design, Heesen subjected the platform to extensive tank testing at the University of Southampton's Wolfson Unit.
The testing program validated hull resistance, trim, wave response, and overall seakeeping characteristics, reinforcing Heesen's long-standing focus on engineering and performance.
Inside Heesen's Active Build Portfolio
According to YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the world's largest yacht database, Heesen currently has 10 yachts either in build or on order. The portfolio spans both speculative and commissioned projects across aluminum and steel platforms. Among the largest current projects is the 60.4m Project Ceres, a 1,060GT steel yacht scheduled for delivery in 2029. Designed by Omega Architects, the yacht offers accommodation for 12 guests and a range of 4,500 nautical miles. Project Ceres is currently available for sale.
The yard is also progressing with Project Evita, the 56.7m flagship of Heesen's 5700 Aluminium series. Scheduled for delivery in 2027, the 780GT yacht features a distinctive aft infinity pool, a central glass elevator and a top speed of 22 knots, while earlier this year Heesen celebrated the launch of the 50m all-aluminum Project Sophia, the fourth yacht in the shipyard's 50m Aluminium Semi-Displacement series, which is now progressing toward delivery following commissioning and sea trials.
Meanwhile, the full-custom 57m Project Setteesettanta continues through its final stages of construction ahead of delivery in 2026. The 920GT yacht is notable for becoming the first Heesen with a bridge deck positioned on a fourth deck and features a private owner's terrace of almost 200 square meters.
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With design, engineering, and tank testing now complete, Project Ananda will move toward keel laying in November 2026, with launch and delivery scheduled for 2030.
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