A Sneak Peek of Royal Huisman’s Largest Hull
With decades of experience in the creation of high performance race yachts, cruising yachts and luxury superyachts, Royal Huisman is delighted to realise another exceptional custom yacht. When completed, will Project 400 be one of the world’s largest aluminium hull to join the top 10 of the world’s largest sailing yachts ranking?
Images courtesy of Royal Huisman yachts
Royal Huisman: Dreams in the Making
Vollenhove-based shipyard in Holland, Royal Huisman, is delighted to announce yet another milestone achieved once the largest hull of the three-masted schooner is complete. This largest hull also called “Project 400” has been under construction since June 2017.
The Project 400, measuring at 81m (266ft) in length with a sturdy plumb bow, will be the largest yacht built by Royal Huisman to-date. Once unveiled with the first delivery expected in 2020, this contemporary schooner will be the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht and it is set to join the top 10 of the world’s largest sailing yachts ranking.
This iconic new project for an Asian client was unveiled at the 2016 Monaco Yacht Show by the joint team of Royal Huisman, Dykstra Naval Architects, designer Mark Whiteley and the yard’s Asia-Pacific representative, Bart Kimman.
Within a year, Royal Huisman completed the design phase in close interaction with the owner, his team and the architects, allowing the assembly of Project 400’s aluminium hull to start in June 2017.
To facilitate the huge hull construction, Royal Huisman’s largest shipbuilding hall was semi-permanently extended and upgraded. Simultaneously, the in-house specialists are working on Project 400’s superstructure, interior accommodation and board systems, whilst the production of the Panamax carbon rig and sail handling system started next door at sister company Rondal.
Now, the milestone anticipated by all involved parties has been achieved: the massive aluminium hull of Project 400 was wheeled out of the construction hall and showed her immense scale.
Four cranes performed the seamless manoeuvring routine, turning this work of art while she was hanging mid-air over the canal adjacent to the shipyard: the largest single piece lifted and turned by Royal Huisman ever. Before the end of the day the upright schooner hull was placed on a cradle and moved back into shipbuilding hall 2 that will be her home until completion in 2020.
