Super yacht ‘Galactica Star’, the first vessel fitted with Van Oossanen‘s Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF), was honoured with the 2014 World Superyacht Award in the ‘Best High-Speed Yacht over 45 meters’ category, handed over on May 3. The jury stated that the award was granted because of motor yacht Galactica Star’s “technically innovative ‘FDHF’ (Fast Displacement Hull Form) design, developed by Van Oossanen Naval Architects”.

World Superyacht Awards 2014 Ceremony - Photo credits to Mark Sims, Superyacht Media

FDHF
Van Oossanen started the development of this new type of hull form in 2009. This was driven by their passion to develop vessels that are highly efficient both at lower cruising speeds and at high speeds. This resulted in a hull form that, compared to a hard-chine hull form, is 30% more efficient at cruising speeds and 15% more efficient at high speeds. In comparison to traditional round-bilge hull forms, significant improvements were also obtained both at cruising speeds and at higher speeds. Model tests confirmed these results and, in addition, revealed that a hard-chine hull form is only more efficient than the FDHF counterpart at fully planing speeds.

This hull form was called the ‘Fast Displacement Hull Form’ because the hull does not rely on the development of hydrodynamic lift for efficiency, but stays in displacement mode, also at high speeds. When the impact of these results became clear, Van Oossanen applied for, and obtained, a patent on the innovative elements of the design.

CFD analyses for the Fast Displacement Hull Form

The development of the FDHF hull form was only just finalized when Heesen Yachts commissioned Van Oossanen to carry out the naval architecture design work for the ‘Galactica Star’ superyacht project. After a first concept study the benefits of the FDHF for this project, for which a minimum speed of 27 knots was required, became apparent and the first application of the FDHF was a fact. At this moment in time there are 12 further yachts based on the FDHF under construction, at 4 different yards across Europe.

World Superyacht Awards
The World Super Yacht Awards Gala took place on Saturday 3 May, in Amsterdam. The award ceremony was organized by Boat International Media and the awarded prizes are known as the ‘Oscars’ of the super yacht industry. The exterior design of superyacht Galactica Star, by Omega Architects, and the interior design, by Bannenberg and Rowell, were also given special attention by the jury.

Luxury motor yacht Galactica Star

Van Oossanen Naval Architects
Van Oossanen Naval Architects are specialized in the design of high-performance sail- and motor yachts, and merchant ships. One of their specific areas of expertise is the hydrodynamic optimization of these designs.