The 262-foot Galactica, previously known as Project Cosmos, has made her maiden voyage from Heesen’s shed in Oss, the Netherlands, through the Dutch canals and rivers.
Heesen’s team had to wait for a calm day with no wind for the maneuvers through locks and under bridges that sometimes allowed only 6 inches of clearance on each side of the yacht. Onlookers often gathered on the riverbanks and bridges. Some applauded.
“We are used to taking our boats to the North Sea via canals and rivers—we’ve been doing so for the past 40-plus years,” the yard stated in a press release. “This is standard procedure with luxury yachts of this size when dealing with inland cruising.”
The yacht is expected to be delivered to the owner in April.
How long did it take Heesen to prepare for Galactica ’s inland cruise to the North Sea? Three to four months, including the gathering of permits and certificates. Heesen’s shipbuilding production and mechanical production departments created custom-fit tools, such as upholstered cradles to protect the hull in narrow passages.
Take the next step: go to heesenyachts.com
