Review: Heesen 154' "Sirocco"

Heesen 154' M/Y Sirocco"​

Stirring Up A Storm...​

by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy​

Identified as one of the most respected names in worldwide yachting, Heesen
has become a proven leader in concept, style, and execution... with 129 yachts delivered
since 1978. Its latest introduction adheres to that repute, with four elegant decks of
custom design, yet sparkling with the capricious whim of its owner. ​

For example, the Sirocco is actually an intense, desiccating south wind that blows up from the Sahara Desert; parched, torrid, a cosmos unto itself, affecting everything in its considerable path. Sirocco’s owner, in deference to that wind’s great power, has named this sleek, waterborne beauty and designed her interior to reflect an anhydrous African heritage. While her grand exterior design identifies her most definitely as a 21st Century luxury ocean yacht, her innermost secrets reveal a tactile African connection; sporting makassar wood, natural stone, leather, marble and wooden floors, all swathed in sultry earth tones.

***​

The Yacht: Heesen's 154' Tri-Deck is an all-aluminum, hard chine, twin-screw megayacht designed and produced in Oss, The Netherlands. She is built to American Bureau of Shipping A1 Yachting Service AMS; all International conventions; Large Commercial Yacht Code LY2; with compliance certificates for a large charter yacht MCA. However, those technical benchmarks which, incidentally, fill 100+ pages with automated traffic control by INCAT shipbuilding software, hardly begin to describe the attention to detail, the grace and beauty of this fine vessel, or the company presenting it to the world of yachting.

The Yard: Frans Heesen bought a Netherlands shipyard in 1978 to house his plastics company. With a ready-made staff of expert workmen, he was then persuaded to continue building yachts as well. The rest is history; the staff has since grown to 250 experienced professional shipwrights, who manufacture products fine enough to win top awards from the Superyacht Society, and to claim routes across the oceans of the world. Its 125’ Octopussy achieved a record speed of 52.3 knots almost 20 years ago. Yet every new yacht is its own new world, each one different from its predecessors, designed and fitted by Heesen’s Omega team of expert naval architects. Heesen has earned an enviable reputation. Their semi-displacement hulls are founded on a rich history in delivering superfast, superyachts. However, their real performance lies in serious luxury yacht construction that takes Dutch building to a higher, more modern level... and they’ve accumulated some serious experience along the way. Heesen has built more yachts over 30 meters in the last ten years than any other yard in the world.

The Build: Sirocco was built, like any Heesen, with wave-slaying ability in mind. After all, these are megayachts designed to travel at twice the speed of their displacement counterparts... with little regard for conditions. Heesen's new semi-production 3700 series yachts, such as "Man of Steel", use the Atlantic as a romping ground and has covered the same on it's own hull... laughing at Dockwise along the way. Utilizing lightweight transversal and longitudinal frame construction, divided into 5 watertight compartments with 4 watertight bulkheads, the build was weather-protected so its production schedule was adhered to in specific, designated order. Every yacht in the world is built in sections, mating hulls, decks, housings and flybridges together, but when it's a yacht built entirely from aluminum, these sub-sections form a structure that’s akin to unibody construction… or the sea-going equivalent to Gibralter’s rock. And when completed, the yacht was subjected to performance trials in the North Sea with a wind force of Beaufort II or less.

Flybridge: Sirocco's sun deck presents a pair of circular couches and tables, while inside under the radar/sat-nav cluster is an exercise gym, along with an icemaker and sink, plus two counters with storage beneath.. Aft is a huge sun pad and fresh-water Jacuzzi with cover, plus underwater spotlights, fit for a crowd of eight happy mariners. Several other couches provide for rest and relaxation in the sun and windswept tower. Forward on the bow, Sirocco has a Zodiac life raft with special launch doors in the bulwark; plus a launching crane. This is in addition to the tenders housed in Sirocco's aft garage.

Wheelhouse: Forward of Sirocco’s owner’s suite on the wheelhouse deck is the pilothouse, nerve center of the yacht, facing Heesen’s newly innovated, vertical-style windows and windshields. This marvel of naval efficiency, orchestrated by the captain in his leather Stidd chair, features bundled electronics, alarm and monitoring systems with 15 touch-screen panels spread across a near beam-wide, curved platform. Monitors include a bank of a dozen security camera screens presenting multiple views of the yacht. Instrumentation runs the gamut of radars, gyros, sat-nav, auto-pilots and steering guides, plus rudder angles, bow thrusters and others, all state of the art. Just aft, the captain’s quarters reflect the care of the designers, with a double berth, private head/shower.

Master Suite; Facing Forward: Another anomaly by Sirocco’s owner puts the master suite on the wheelhouse deck, with its gigantic party dining area accessible at the rear deck. Though it is no less sumptuous than any other location, a king-size berth is centered, facing aft, with its headboard forward, and storage beneath. Large pillars not only add motif, they add structural support and double as storage.

Master Suite; Looking Aft: Two full size couches fit diagonally across the spacious quarters, flanked by large windows that give the owner 180 degree views astern. The port/starboard sides of the master are lined with dressers & drawers, all reflecting the artistry in wood that is taking place above. Also contained within the custom built cabinetry are a convenient refrigerator and ice-maker.

Master Bath: Fixtures are THG Chantilly, crystal/gold finish. A triplet of windows invite daylight into the room from starboard. A double-size, glass-enclosed shower and large tub, plus toilet and bidet complete the amenities. Speckled gold leaf tiles echo the master sink decoration in the form of wood floor inlays.

Master Sink: Sirocco's commodious his/hers bathroom features twin wash basins set in gold-leaf and speckled tile with a very unique back-lit mirror for illuminating the lavatory. Wood pillars stand as a testament to the theme carried throughout the owner's suite. They are not only decorative, but purposeful too.

Main Foyer: Throughout the yacht, pillars proliferate with various design schemes for continuing interest. Here, the central circular staircase, located in the main foyer, grants easy access to all decks while providing a prelude to the restful earth tones that abound. Selected hardwood veneers and carved woods are used for contrast in an abstact geometric fashion. Winding wood balustrades surround the staircase and offset lighting contributes to safety.

Forward Lounge; Entertainment Center: A separate and dedicated room forward on the main deck a divided lounging and entertainment room... a family room of sorts. Situated between two of Sirocco's gigantic hull windows, guests can gaze over the horizon or catch up on the outside world with a giant plasma screen. Subtle details tie all of Sirocco's elements together, such as the twine that binds the wood cross sections in the cieling or the reptilian leather that covers select furnishings.

Dining Room; Looking Aft to Salon: In the formal dining area a spectacular cherrywood table looms up as the crowning element of this spare but spacious and well-organized section. The theme, polished wood and embossed leather, is carried out here as well, on flooring, sideboards, and display spaces. Tableware cabinets at each beam provide for any occasion. The ceiling echoes Sirocco’s African earth tones throughout, with overhead, subtle lighting spotted in a regular pattern.

Salon; Looking Port/Forward: The owner’s African influence is felt here in the salon most of all, with decorative planked wooden flooring and a thick, stark white island carpet setting off the broad central area. Cherry and mahogany furniture, as well as cabinetry, also carry the no-nonsense theme, though in somewhat plush fashion, with straight lines and earth tones in a thoroughly masculine décor. Striking African art pieces are placed for visual appreciation in several areas. Roman shades all around are electrically operated. An oversized, glass-topped, central coffee table dominates the space. For ultimate entertainment, a 42” TV slides out of its cabinet to broadcast from Sea Tel Marine stabilized systems. This is also beamed to each stateroom as well as the aft deck, with surround sound.

Salon Wetbar: Toward the stern from the Salon’s gathering area, a small bar tucked away to port could pass for any colorful African venue, as though it had just trekked in from the white/hunter/ivory tusk country. Spare, but crisp, it offers several wicker bar stools, a bamboo backdrop and is cordoned off from the aft deck by a hanging reed drape. “If this be Zanzibar, Cap’n, Kilimanjaro must be just up that deep Pangaiu River”.

GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS ​

VIP Suite: On the lower deck, two large VIP guest suites present queen-size berths, canted at angles from port and starboard. Both feature large hanging lockers, and stowage below. Their size and amenities set them apart from other staterooms on the yacht as each has its own separate double bath. This is one the VIP suites, with an opposing perspective below.

VIP; Alternate Angle: A small nook is provided as a cozy reading place on a long voyage. Flat screens abound and modern technology stands in stark contrast to the natural elements carried through out, such as the columns wrapped in rope and flanking the television screen or the bamboo piping that lines the bed pedestal.

VIP Bath: Granite countertops are featured in the VIP baths, as well as large stand-up/sit-down showers, with Wico, Jado Oriental, and chrome finish fixtures. Nestled into a contrasting array of fine woods, patterned storage drawers and decorative shower glass, a granite counter jettisons outward with twin washbasins.

Queen Guest Suite: One of the four main guest suites, this uniquely decorated room features an African bow-shield hovering over its foot. The queen-size island berth has stowage beneath and also dressers, a vanity, and a double closet.

Guest Twin: Bamboo wall treatments line a contrasting riser that separates the twin bunks. Located forward of the VIP suites and opposite the queen guest stateroom, the African motif is carried over, but with clean, contemporary accents.