Obituary: Heesen Yachts founder Frans Heesen
Heesen Yachts confirms the death of its founder, Frans Heesen, who passed away peacefully on 23 April 2025 in Oss, Netherlands. He is survived by his wife Petra, as well as his children and grandchildren.
Frans Heesen founded the Dutch shipyard that bears his name and was closely involved in its development.
In a statement, the shipyard says “Frans’ visionary leadership, courage and exceptional ability to identify and nurture talent have been fundamental to Heesen Yachts’ success and growth.”
One of his most well-known decisions involved the construction of the yacht Octopussy, a breakthrough project seen at the time as an audacious move and a real risk for the company. Commissioned in the late 1980s, Octopussy was designed to achieve an unprecedented speed of over 50 knots, which was ambitious for a luxury yacht of its size (44 metres) and made the project a considerable technical and financial gamble.
His commitment to this project ultimately helped to raise the profile of Heesen internationally.
Frans Heesen sold the yard to Russian billionaire Vagit Alekperov in 2008 for a reported $150m. The yard was placed under the interim ownership of an independent Dutch foundation in 2022, when Alekperov was sanctioned by the EU. The yard was sold to Dutch entrepreneur and investor Laurens earlier this month.
Despite changing hands, the company states that the working environment and spirit of the firm retain the close-knit culture introduced by its founder.
MIN extends its sincere condolences to Frans Heesen’s family and friends.
