Heesen Yachts CEO Jeroen van der Meer on Design, Innovation, Sustainability & the Future of Superyachts
Yachting Channel · Yachting International Radio
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Show Notes
In this episode of Yachting USA, Rick Thomas sits down with Jeroen van der Meer, CEO of Heesen Yachts, to explore how one of the world’s most respected Dutch shipyards is shaping the future of superyacht design, engineering, and sustainability.
Recorded following major ownership changes and a pivotal Monaco Yacht Show, this conversation offers a rare inside look at Heesen’s strategic direction — from custom and semi-custom yacht building to lean manufacturing, crew wellbeing, and next-generation propulsion systems.
Jeroen shares how Heesen is balancing tradition with innovation, why the 50–70m segment remains the shipyard’s core focus, and how evolving owner expectations are influencing yacht usage, onboard livability, and lifecycle design.
We also discuss:
- What defines build quality at a top-tier Dutch shipyard
- Custom vs semi-custom yacht production and why Heesen does both
- Engineering efficiency, hull performance, and system integration
- Sustainability, hybrid propulsion, and alternative fuel readiness
- Crew experience, routing, and long-term operability
- Global service strategy, predictive maintenance, and refit planning
How U.S. yacht owners are influencing European yacht construction
This is a technical, candid, and strategic conversation for yacht owners, captains, brokers, engineers, and anyone serious about where the superyacht industry is heading.
Learn more about Heesen Yachts: https://www.heesenyachts.com