United States

Starboard Yacht Group

They said it couldn’t be done, but Netherlands-based builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> proved everyone wrong in 1988 when they delivered <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a>, the 43.58-metre superyacht that topped the 50 knot plus barrier. Commissioned by American entrepreneur John Staluppi, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> defied the odds by reaching speeds of 53.17 knots and cementing her place in yacht building history as ‘the fastest superyacht in the world.’<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/207205/image/large-f69bf6952f61ac9c8e6cd45d3c80fe35.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/207205"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> has exchanged hands several times since her delivery. Over the years the alterations of her previous owners’, in addition to deferred service and maintenance caused performance issues that led to her top speed being limited to around 18 knots. In 2021, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> was sold to her new owner who appreciated the history and accolades the iconic superyacht had garnered over the years. As a result, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> was hauled to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2067" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lauderdale Marine Center (Company)">Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center</a> in South Florida, USA. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> was entrusted with the task of completing a major refit.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268504/image/large-004e3e29ea861e641dc3812a39a9d142.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268504">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/55439" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen’s 44m ‘world’s fastest yacht’ Octopussy prepares for major refit (2022-06-28 17:45:00 +0200)">Heesen’s 44m ‘world’s fastest yacht’ Octopussy prepares for major refit</a>Once the fastest yacht in the world, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a>’s refit will see her attempt to claim a new title, “instead of speed, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> will focus on stability to become the most stable yacht on the planet,” commented Jake Stratmann. The refit will see her receive three <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2383" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Seakeeper, Inc. (Company)">Seakeeper</a> 35s and Humphree's trim with stabilisation systems to ensure a smooth and comfortable cruising experience and over 100,000 nmps of stabilisation horsepower. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> will also receive a new propulsion system of twin 4,000 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6875" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA (Company)">Voith</a> Linear Jets, as well as a few structural changes to optimise her overall performance. Her owner had previously used the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> for refits on some of his smaller vessels so enlisting the team at the Florida-based refit centre made perfect sense. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/110821/image/large-c67162b1b32ddc36af2fb684d68f48ba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/110821"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/110820/image/large-c4b39570db72e2aba4688f65d114da57.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/110820">The yacht's interior prior to her new ownership, this interior is now being entirely remodelled in line with the new owner's styling.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988"></a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988"></a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> already has such an iconic history with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>, but this major refit allows the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> to write a different route of innovation into her history. “The plan for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> is to combine a special lightweight efficient hull, with a three-and-a-half-metre beach club extension and a whole new level of stability to create the most epic dive boat for her owner!” added Jake Stratmann. During this extensive refit, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> will receive a complete interior refit from Fort Lauderdale-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3041" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Karen Lynn Interiors (Company)">Karen Lynn Interiors</a>.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> will work closely with her original naval architect designer, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a> to make <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> better than before without compromising her iconic original design. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a> founder Frank Mulder has the original plans and some invested interest into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a>, so we quickly got him and his son Bas Mulder, as well as their team onboard with the project,” added Jake Stratmann. “The idea is to achieve a 28 knots, 80 percent load cruise capacity and when working with the boys, they kept playing around with the whole design to get the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6875" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA (Company)">Voith</a> Linear Jets and shaft right alongside her extension.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/103477/image/large-cc99c3f473ffe6bf3f4afe29eda833f3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/103477">The new owner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> is a keen diver, and her original design did not have a large enough platform to accommodate this. Her exterior design and beach club extension have been entrusted to Miami-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/283" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luiz de Basto Designs (Company)">Luiz de Basto Designs</a> who are extending her original <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder</a> design. “We needed to work out how we could create a new hydraulic swim platform while adding weight and still meet the owner’s intended use,” stated Jake Stratmann. “This previously wasn’t possible due to the positioning of her triple 3,600 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, so it was great that the owner was also keen on stability, rather than speed as our needs and expectations aligned very well.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268503/image/large-157358b030515def750ef3489bd22533.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268503">The refit process is underway at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a>, with the swim platform removed from her superstructure. Engineering has already begun to make way for all this new innovative technology and her twin 4,000 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines have already been ordered. For the most part, everything is going smoothly, and she is looking at a timeline of Summer 2024 for completion. Joe Seintz and Project Manager Jeff Vrana are currently working with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> crew and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> team doing demos in preparation for the final designs to be approved by the owner. The refit of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> originally started off as a swim platform and a paint job, but upon completion, she will be a pioneer for innovative technology.This article was originally published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper/newspaper-issue-44" target="_blank">Issue 44 of SuperYacht Times newspaper</a>.&nbsp;To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Refitting Heesen superyacht Octopussy

The iconic superyacht Octopussy is undergoing a major refit with hydrogen fuel cells, SYT found out more.

The refit of the iconic 43m Heesen superyacht Octopussy

The 43.58-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> has been hauled to the Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center in South Florida, USA in preparation for her stabilization refit. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group. (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> has been entrusted with the major refit, which has an expected completion date of the beginning of 2023.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/232624/image/large-8136924762f4ae708b6d311e933c002e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/232624">The yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> was delivered in 1988 from the Netherlands, and was commissioned by American entrepreneur John Staluppi, with the aim of breaking through the 50-knot barrier. She achieved this, and was once the fastest yacht in the world, topping out at 53.17 knots.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/232625/image/large-143b7bd225e13d924b43204da7fafcaa.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/232625"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a>’s owner requested the refit in order to restore the vessel’s original performance, after her previous owners’ alterations caused the yacht the inability to go over 15 knots. The refit will include the installation of 3 Seakeeper gyro-stabilizers, Humphree’s trim and stabilizing system, and a new propulsion system.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/232626/image/large-9086233c25de8623e455c40ec8b57f26.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/232626"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6773" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Starboard Yacht Group. (Company)">Starboard Yacht Group</a> will be working closely with her original naval architect designer, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a> to make <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Octopussy 43.58m (142'12&quot;)Heesen Yachts1988">Octopussy</a> better than before without compromising her iconic original design.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/232623/image/large-b339136fccab3370cb8f130a382e4cc9.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/232623">

Heesen’s 44m yacht Octopussy prepares for major refit

The 44m Heesen yacht Octopussy, which was once the world’s fastest superyacht, is preparing for a major refit to restore her to her former glory.