Simon Wittenberg takes a closer look at the 60-metre Project SkyFall Superyacht, MY Ultra G, the Dutch shipyard’s first launch of 2023.

The new year has started at full throttle for Heesen Yachts in Oss, with the opening weeks of 2023 seeing the launch of Project SkyFall, an all-aluminium, 60-metre superyacht – just 10 metres shorter than Heesen’s Galactica Super Nova.

In build since October 2020, the vessel has been christened MY Ultra G by its new owner, and will be followed by other unveilings by The Netherlands-based shipyard throughout the coming months.

The black and red exterior of the 918 gross-tonne (GT) superyacht has been styled by Frank Laupman at the UK-based Omega Architects, and draws inspiration from two luxury Heesen sportfishing yachts in the 1990s, namely the 38-metre MY Obsessions (from 1996), which was the largest sportfishing yacht of its time, until the baton was passed to the 39-metre MY Red Sapphire a year later.

MY Ultra G is capable of accommodating ten guests and 13 crew, and its luxurious interior, designed by the London-based studio Harrison Eidsgaard, features a master apartment complete with a jacuzzi, a large walk-in wardrobe, plus a large bathroom housing a central oval bath and separate shower.

The art of entertaining guests lies at the heart of the functionality of all social areas, both inside and out. For example, a custom-made wine cooler, with discrete sections at different temperatures takes pride of place in the main saloon.

The high-tech media room is home to Samsung’s new Wall TV, measuring nearly two metres by eight metres, and the elegant games table on the main deck forward, is undoubtedly the pièce de résistance. The sundeck, with its infinity pool facing aft, is the perfect setting for hosting receptions and musical entertainment.

For those who like to travel with their pets, four-legged friends are also treated to a luxurious experience, thanks to a series of carefully thought-out details to make their life at sea as safe and as stress-free as possible. These include the ‘relief area’, a self-flushing area of the side deck finished in synthetic grass, complete with sensors, cameras and sprinklers.

MY Ultra G is powered by four MTU 20V 4000 engines, driving four Kongsberg S90 waterjets, and delivering a staggering 22,000 horsepower. The outer powerplants, compliant with the latest Tier III environmental regulations, drive steerable jets, whilst the centre engines operate fixed booster units. With less back-pressure and a slightly higher power output, the centre engines are activated solely for the highest speeds.

Thanks to its lightweight aluminium Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF), complete with course fins, gyro stabilisers and interceptor trim plates, MY Ultra G is able to reach an extraordinary top speed of 37 knots (42 mph) in light load conditions.

The hull has also been shaped to provide a much smoother and flatter ride, when compared to a conventional semi-displacement profile. In addition, three gyro-stabilisers will keep the yacht stable at low speeds.

Before MY Ultra G is handed over to its new owner, Heesen Yachts is now undertaking system commissioning testing prior to the superyacht departing the shipyard in Oss for intensive trials in the North Sea.

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For more information on Heesen Yachts and the 60-metre MY Ultra G superyacht, visit www.heesenyachts.com.

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