Galactica Super Nova (70m)
| LOA | 70.07 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 11.9 m |
| Gross tonnage | about 1,200 GT |
| Top speed | 30 knots |
| Range | about 4,000 nm at 12 knots |
| Engines | twin MTU diesels on propellers plus a third MTU booster jet |
| Hull | aluminium FDHF and superstructure |
| Design | Espen Oeino exterior, Sinot interior |
A record for the yard in 2016
When Galactica Super Nova was delivered in May 2016 she was the largest yacht Heesen had ever built at 70 metres. She also proved that the Fast Displacement Hull Form could scale up without losing its edge. A 30 knot top speed put her among the fastest superyachts in her class anywhere in the world. For the yard she was both a size milestone and a performance statement. That top speed still places her at the front of the 70 metre field a decade on.
Her significance is really about the ceiling she raised. Reaching thirty knots on a 70 metre aluminium hull is a serious feat of naval architecture and weight control. She showed owners that Heesen could take the fast-hull idea into flagship territory. Everything the yard later did at 80 metres builds on what Super Nova demonstrated. Her delivery gave Heesen the confidence to plan even larger fast hulls.
Thirty knots from an unusual driveline
Galactica Super Nova owes her speed to the Van Oossanen FDHF hull and a clever power arrangement. Two MTU diesels drive fixed propellers, and a third MTU feeds a booster jet for the top end. That layout lets her sit at an economical cruise on the mains and call on the jet when the owner wants the full 30 knots. The main engines are rated at around 5,765 hp each. The jet stays idle for most cruising and only earns its keep at the top of the range.
The FDHF is what makes the speed usable. It keeps resistance low across the range, so she is efficient at a 12 knot cruise and still able to sprint. At that cruise she covers about 4,000 nautical miles. Few 70 metre yachts can shift between quiet passage-making and thirty knots as cleanly as this. That mix of reach and pace is rare in a yacht built so clearly for speed.
One of the world's fastest 70s, with a booster jet for a true 30 knots.
Espen Oeino, sculpted for speed
Espen Oeino International styled the exterior, and his profile makes the pace obvious from any angle. The superstructure is long and low, sculpted to look like it is moving even at the dock. Sweeping glass and taut lines give her a purposeful, athletic stance. The design has aged well, which is the mark of a disciplined hand. Espen Oeino's studio is known for exactly this kind of assured, sporting line.
The exterior also delivers real amenity across her length. Broad sun decks and a proper beach club near the water give guests room to spread out. The styling never lets deck clutter break the clean run of the profile. Form and function sit comfortably together here. A beach club opens the stern to the sea for swimming and easy tender work.
Sinot below decks
Sinot Yacht Design created the interior for twelve guests across an owner's stateroom, a VIP and four further suites. The style is calm and contemporary, using natural materials to soften the yacht's obvious power. Volume from a 1,200 ton hull gives generous social spaces without feeling cavernous. It is a restful counterpoint to the performance in the hull. The single owner's stateroom and a VIP sit among four further guest suites for a full complement.
Light is a theme throughout the guest areas. Large windows and open plans keep the sea present from every seat, and the finishes stay quiet enough to let the views lead. The layout suits both relaxed family use and larger gatherings. Sinot's work here reads as timeless rather than fashionable. The restraint keeps the focus on the water rather than on the decor.
Serious speed for a demanding owner
The engineering story is the combined diesel and booster-jet driveline, an unusual choice that delivers both economy and a high top end. Everything is built around protecting that thirty-knot figure while keeping cruising consumption sensible. She is a conventional propulsion yacht rather than a hybrid, matched to an owner who prizes outright pace. The systems are sized for a hard-driven flagship. The booster jet is the piece that turns a fast cruiser into a genuine thirty-knot yacht.
Galactica Super Nova suits an owner who genuinely wants speed at 70 metres and will not compromise on it. He values the ability to outrun weather or simply to arrive first, backed by flagship volume and comfort. Few yachts of the length offer this blend, which keeps her desirable years after delivery. For the speed-focused buyer she remains a benchmark. For a decade she has held that reputation with very little to challenge her.
Двигатели и системы
| Engines | Two MTU 20V 4000 M93L wing engines with fixed pitch propellers, each rated about 4,300 kW (5,766 hp), plus one central MTU 16V 4000 M93L engine driving a Rolls-Royce booster waterjet, rated about 3,440 kW (4,613 hp), combined over 16,000 hp. Consistent across Heesen's own spec page and Boat International. |
|---|---|
| Top speed | Conflict across sources: 30 knots per Heesen's current spec page and several directories, 30.3 knots per the widely cited Boat International sea trial report and an unofficial 32.7 knots at full load per Yachts International magazine. |
| Cruising speed | Conflict across sources: 12 knots per Heesen's own spec page and Yachts International, 14 knots per a Romeo United Yachts brokerage listing and 18 knots per a 2026 YachtCharterFleet listing under the name Gaja, which may reflect different operating profiles or a post refit figure. |
| Range | 4,000 nautical miles at 12 knots cruising, consistent across Heesen's own spec page, Boat International and Yachts International. |
| Hull form | Van Oossanen Fast Displacement Hull Form, aluminium hull and superstructure, credited with cutting resistance versus a conventional round bilge hull of similar size. |
| Fuel and water tankage | 89,000 litres fuel and 25,000 litres fresh water, consistent across Heesen's own spec page and the brokerage listing. |
| Stabilisers | Quantum extendable zero speed stabilisers, two fins, confirmed by Heesen's own spec page and the brokerage listing. |
| Tenders and toys | A forward tender garage houses tenders including an amphibious Quadski at delivery. A later charter inventory under the name Gaja lists a Boesch 750 Portofino de Luxe tender, a Narwhal SV-480 rescue boat, two Sea-Doo jet skis, a Yamaha WaveRunner, two Seabobs plus water skis and towables, describing a different point in time to the original build. |
| Notable features | A six metre swim jet infinity pool with glass panelling and hydro massage jets, a roughly 146 square metre beach club with 44 square metres of folding platforms, a nine metre foredeck cinema screen that converts to a nightclub setup, a Man Overboard Rapid Reaction System with automated buoys and a glass walled central elevator. |
| Gross tonnage, crew and guests | Conflict: 1,200 GT and 16 crew per most build era sources, 1,130 GT and 15 crew per Boat International's current directory entry under the name Gaja. Guest capacity is consistently reported as 12 guests in 6 cabins. |
Что сообщают владельцы и экипажи
Top speed came easily and the ride stayed smooth in a head sea
Captain Chris Guy described the delivery sea trial handling: "We did a speed run for the boss. On the main 20V MTUs alone we reached 26 knots." "We go from zero to top speed [30.3 knots] in 75 seconds." On a 1.5 metre head sea he said: "Last night we had a 1.5 metre sea against us and we were running at 15 knots. There was no slamming. None!"
Chris Guy, Captain of Galactica Super Nova, quoted in Boat InternationalInterceptors add a real knot of speed at full RPM
Confirmed through onboard testing that at full RPM the interceptors add roughly one additional knot of top speed.
Jan Kamstra, Yacht Engineer on Galactica Super Nova, quoted in Boat InternationalThe single jet, fixed prop layout hitting 30 knots is a genuine engineering achievement for this size
"Thirty knots is a great thing for a boat this size, especially with the simple fixed props and a single jet."
Perry van Oossanen, naval architect, Van Oossanen Naval Architects, quoted in Boat InternationalInterior design was kept consistent deck to deck with deliberate material shifts
On the interior scheme: "Every space is consistent. The detailing is the same, bridge to main to beach club, but there is a shift in materials and ceiling style to define each space."
Paul Costerus, Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design, quoted in Boat InternationalThe AV and entertainment system was engineered in from the start rather than added later
On the ten screen, multi zone audio visual system fitted across three decks: "We were able to work with the engineering team right from the start."
Ameet Sarvayia, Chief Technical Officer, VBH (AV integrator), quoted in Boat International
Сильные стороны и что учесть
Сильные стороны
- A genuinely novel propulsion layout at deliveryTwo MTU wing engines with fixed pitch propellers plus a third central MTU engine driving a Rolls-Royce booster waterjet, a first time configuration for a yacht this size when she was built, paired with Van Oossanen's Fast Displacement Hull Form.
- Genuinely fast for her size classReached 30.3 knots on sea trial against a 30 knot contract, with zero to 30 knots in about 75 seconds. She was the largest and fastest yacht Heesen had built at the time, outrunning the yard's previous flagship Galactica Star at 28 knots.
- Peer recognised design and engineeringWon the Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 50m and Above category at the 2017 World Superyacht Awards, with further recognition at the 2016 Monaco Yacht Show.
- Reported good sea keeping despite the speed focusThe captain describes running at 15 knots into a 1.5 metre head sea with no slamming, an unusual claim for a fast displacement hull this size, though it is a single first hand account rather than an independent test.
На что обратить внимание
- Ownership history is a major diligence item, not a footnoteBuilt for Vagit Alekperov, president and CEO of Russia's Lukoil, who was placed under UK sanctions in April 2022. The yacht stopped transmitting AIS after leaving Tivat, Montenegro that March, required by law to run at all times for a vessel this size. Boat International's own current directory now lists her under a different name, Gaja. Independently verified reporting (The Daily Beast, Yahoo News, Wikipedia's list of yachts affected by Russia sanctions) confirms the sanctions date and the AIS blackout; a prospective buyer or charterer needs full, independently verified beneficial ownership and title history before proceeding, not marketing material.
- Published specs do not agree with each other, even among reputable sourcesTop speed is variously reported as 30 knots on the current builder spec page, 30.3 knots in the widely cited Boat International sea trial account and an unofficial 32.7 knots at full load in Yachts International magazine. Cruising speed is reported as 12, 14 or 18 knots depending on source. Gross tonnage appears as both 1,200 GT and 1,130 GT. No single number should be taken as authoritative without checking a current spec sheet.
- A specialised, non standard drivetrainThe mixed fixed pitch twin engine plus centreline waterjet booster arrangement is unusual for a yacht this size. A buyer should confirm parts availability, service history and refit costs for the Rolls-Royce booster jet specifically, since it is less common in the field than conventional shaftline or pod propulsion.
- Now approaching a decade old, under an unclear current name and registrationDelivered in 2016. A 2026 charter listing refers to her as Gaja, ex Galactica Super Nova and notes a 2026 refit; Boat International's directory records the same name change. A buyer or charterer should confirm which name, flag and management company currently apply and what the refit scope covered, rather than assume continuity with the original 2016 build.
Практическая информация
| Charter rate | Reported at EUR 750,000 per week low season and EUR 800,000 per week high season plus expenses for the Mediterranean season, May to September, under the current charter name Gaja, per YachtCharterFleet. |
|---|---|
| Sale asking price | Listed for sale at EUR 75,000,000 jointly through Burgess and Arcon Yachts, also cross listed by Romeo United Yachts. Some value trackers estimate market value around USD 80,000,000. The original 2016 build cost was not found in any named source and should not be assumed. |
| Current name and status | Built and delivered as Galactica Super Nova in 2016. Boat International's directory now lists her under the name Gaja, with Galactica Super Nova recorded as a previous name. She appears simultaneously listed for sale and for charter in different trackers; a buyer should reconcile directly with the listing brokers before assuming availability. |
| Ownership and sanctions diligence | Original owner Vagit Alekperov of Lukoil was UK sanctioned in April 2022. The vessel went dark on AIS tracking off Montenegro shortly before. Any transaction should be preceded by independent legal and compliance due diligence on current title and beneficial ownership, which is not disclosed in brokerage marketing. |
| What is not published | No named source discloses the original 2016 build price. No independent, non owner, non yard sea trial or long term ownership review was found beyond the Boat International feature. Current mechanical condition, refit scope and maintenance history beyond the noted 2026 refit are not publicly detailed. |
| Booking and access | Charter and sale enquiries go through named brokerages: YachtCharterFleet listed agents for charter and the Burgess and Arcon Yachts network for sale. There is no public direct owner booking channel. |
Design
| Экстерьер | Espen Oeino (Espen Oeino International) |
|---|---|
| Интерьер | Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design (Sander Sinot) |
| Морская архитектура | Van Oossanen Naval Architects / Heesen (aluminium Fast Displacement Hull Form) |
Для кого: A performance-minded owner who wants genuine 30-knot speed at 70 metres with flagship volume and comfort, and who is happy to run a conventional high-power driveline to get it.