Van Oossanen’s nonstop pursuit of innovation yields trailblazing projects.

WAGENINGEN —R&D and nonstop innovation are deeply rooted in Van Oossanen Naval Architects’ DNA. The firm focuses on the shipbuilding side of design and specializes in Computational Fluid Dynamics. Its scientific approach has produced groundbreaking results. Like the patented Fast Displacement Hull Form and the patented Hull Vane. “Optimizing hull shapes never stops,” says CEO Perry van Oossanen. “We look for further improvements in AI. The computer can learn what an optimal hull should look like. And with data already collected, it calculates where improvements can be made. You don’t need a hull as a starting point. All it needs is several parameters to generate an optimal hull. “This is partly due to increased computing power, which has changed the focus of our work. Take the America’s Cup. It employs software engineers and technicians who translate all the data into practice.” Sustainability is a top priority for Van Oossanen Naval Architects. The International Maritime Organization targets a 50% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050. Van Oossanen Naval Architects’ target is a sustainable ‘Yacht of 2030.’ Van Oossanen: “We think solutions can already be applied now, but that’s not happening fast enough for reasons of cost. It is not a standard. Boatyards are risk-averse. You need customers who are willing to pay for it.” Van Oossanen looked at what is possible in terms of reducing emissions. “We took a 50m (164ft) yacht and put everything we could think of on it,” he says. “Of all the systems, we chose the most sustainable options. We started with an aluminum FDHF, added our Hull Vane, a hybrid propulsion and auxiliary system, and considered air conditioning and hot water supply. “Air conditioning can do better by default to cool every room to 20C (72F). Awnings prevent boats from heating up. Overall, we found that today’s technology can already halve a yacht’s emissions. But this requires a different mindset. It is hard to persuade the entire yacht-building chain. The ‘Yacht of 2030′ project has provided us with the knowledge to offer clients the right options.” Hydrogen is actively debated, but Van Oossanen prefers methanol as an alternative fuel. “Methanol has a higher energy density, so you need less volume. Hydrogen requires high-pressure tanks. Dual-fuel engines have been developed for shipping, which have fewer emissions. Fuel cells are clean, but their application is still a remote prospect. Striving for sustainability is necessary. If the yacht-building industry does not put a big shoulder to that task, it risks facing legislative restrictions later on.” Van Oossanen Naval Architects is one of dozens of partners in the Dutch government’s Maritime Master Plan to have 30 emission-free ships in operation by 2030. The project involves developing and practical testing technology for using methanol as fuel. Van Oossanen Naval Architects focuses on AI in collaboration with the Maritime Research Institute of the Netherlands. It contributes CFD and FDHF know-how, which provides an optimized hull shape that keeps power demand down. Van Oossanen Naval Architects works on commercial shipping and yacht-building projects. Recent projects include: the Hutting 46 Explorer sailing yacht , a long-distance cruiser. the 11.58m Sichterman T38 luxury tender, a Cor D. Rover Design project. Van Oossanen did the naval calculations and engineering. Below the waterline, the configuration is groundbreaking and suitable for both fast cruising and shallow waters. Thanks to folding stern drives, the boat can even rest on dry ground at low tide. A hybrid version and a foil assist are options. the composite 13.10m Wajer 44 open-cockpit luxury tender resembles the much bigger 23.5m Wajer 77. Its two Volvo IPS650 engines achieve a cruising speed of 26 knots and a top speed of 40 knots. the Royal Hakvoort-built, 45.2m (148ft) motor yacht Milele won the “Best Naval Architecture” prize in the 2024 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards. Van Oossanen says Milele’s owner had many special requests, including the ability for the yacht to launch a submarine. Van Oossanen developed the technical platform. Omega Architects realized the design. Van Oossanen Naval Architects is no Johnny-come-lately. Already in 2012, Heesen Yachts’ 65m (213ft) Galactica Star was the first superyacht bearing its patented FDHF hull and promptly won prizes. Van Oossanen Naval Architects packs a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise in a library for students that includes five scientific books by Piet van Oossanen, Perry’s father and founder of Van Oossanen Naval Architects: Part 1: The Attainable Speed Under Sail. Part 2: The Origin and Nature of Fluid-Dynamic Lift and Drag. Part 3: Phenomena and Drag Originating From the Boundary Layer. Part 4: Phenomena and Drag Originating From the Air-Water Interface. Part 5: Sailing Fundamentals, Foils and Foil Sections, Hull Forms, and Australia II’