UPDATE, APRIL 11, 2023: With the Project Akira yacht completion date a little more than a year away, buyers have signed the dotted line. Wes Sanford of Northrop & Johnson and James Corts of MarineMax introduced the owners. In a joint statement, they say, “We couldn’t be happier to have matched this family with such an excellent Dutch shipyard.” They add that the design and engineering for global cruising but more specifically enjoying The Bahamas held great appeal.
Read on for our original article.
There’s still time for owners to step into the Project Akira yacht progressing at Heesen Yachts. Her hull and superstructure just joined, therefore leaving the interior yet to start coming onboard.
The Project Akira keel laying took place nearly a year ago, inaugurating Heesen’s 57-meter all-aluminum series. (On a related side note, four Heesen employees celebrating 24 years with the shipyard laid the first welds.) Heesen first revealed the series in late 2019. The 186-footer has a volume of 780 gross tons, with an anticipated top speed of 22 knots thanks to the fast-displacement hull and twin MTU diesel engines. Still, though, she has a transatlantic range at her most-efficient cruising speed of 13 knots.
The styling reflects the family feeling of the series, with a nearly plumb bow from Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. Aft, she shows off a scooped transom. Meanwhile, the Project Akira yacht design inside is open entirely to customer input. Naturally, suggestions are available, from the Harrison Eidsgaard studio. In fact, the designers have penned three different themes: Hamptons (above), Manhattan (below), and Riviera (bottom). With Hamptons, “This yacht is timeless,” the studio says. “This yacht is home.” She’s akin to a refined gentleman’s yacht, it adds, with rich walnut and bright fabrics, plus eclectic accessories from travels.
With Manhattan, there’s an air of modern sophistication, and downtown loft living, too. Polished chrome and titanium accentuate oak soles, and cool but still-bold blues, greys, and charcoals. With Riviera, relaxed elegance is the watchword, “like a beautiful afternoon on a sunny Riviera terrace,” the designers say. Rock-crystal chandeliers combine with velvet upholstery in whites and blues, plus marble and brass accents.
Regardless of décor choice, the Project Akira yacht accommodates a party of 12. Treat your Very Important People to a bridge-deck suite, while you enjoy a 678-square-foot (63-square-foot) main-deck suite. An elevator of glass and stainless steel makes getting around the decks easier.
Even with custom requests, the yacht should be ready for delivery next summer.
Heesen Yachts heesenyachts.com
Harrison Eidsgaard he.design
Omega Architects omega-architects.com
Van Oossanen Naval Architects oossanen.nl
More About the Project Akira Yacht by Heesen
LOA: 186’0” (56.7 meters)
Beam: 33’8” (10.3 meters)
Draft: 7’5” (2.3 meters)
Guests: 12 guests in 6 staterooms
Engines: 2/3,400-hp MTUs
Range: 3,900 nautical miles at 13 knots
Builder: Heesen Yachts
Stylist: Omega Architects
Naval Architect: Van Oossanen Naval Architects
Interior Designer: Harrison Eidsgaard
Leave a Reply