Hakvoort has signed a contract to build its largest superyacht to date, the 63.3-metre superyacht Project  Zeus in a sale arranged in close co-operation with Moran Yacht & Ship. The yard, which recently started construction on the 61-metre Golden Age, says Project Zeus is pegged for a 2017 launch.



The yacht’s René van der Velden exterior styling had to meet some very specific requirements from the owner, who has a long-standing relationship with the designer. “He was very keen that the yacht should not be a repeat of anything else that is currently afloat but something genuinely fresh and bold,” says Van der Velden. “The owner admires a type of styling called ‘streamlining’, which was especially popular in the 1930s and 1940s. A streamliner is a vehicle or vessel given a specific shape that reduces air resistance. Examples include the famous ferry Kalakala and the record-breaking car Bluebird. This is the first time streamlining has been so clearly integrated into the design of a superyacht.”

A part of the layout brief was the location of the tenders. “The owner has a lot of experience and knows how difficult large tenders can be to launch,” he says. “Seeking a very practical solution we chose to place two nine-metre tenders on the main deck. As this eats into a lot of prime real estate, we have skipped the traditional salon, dedicating the main deck to the owner’s quarters, galley and captain’s cabin. This has freed space on the deck above for pure socialising.”



This deck includes a spacious salon forward and sky lounge aft with sliding doors that open to create a big inside-out zone. The bridge deck includes an area set aside for a gym that can be opened up to the elements. Project Zeus also features a beach club with lots of storage and a sauna. The interior is from Sinot Yacht Design, while Diana Yacht Design is responsible for the naval architecture.

Twin Caterpillar 3512Cs will give her a top speed of 15 knots and a cruising speed of 12.5 knots. Her range at 12 knots is 5,000 nautical miles.