The Dutch superyacht sector witnessed a significant operational development this week as Damen Yachting initiated sea trials for its latest maritime behemoth. Known as Project Tanzanite, this 120-metre vessel has officially departed the shipyard’s facilities in Vlissingen to begin rigorous testing protocols in the North Sea. For the shipbuilding community and the Ultra High Net Worth market, this transition from the outfitting quay to open water represents a pivotal moment in the lifecycle of a custom superyacht.
The initiation of sea trials is the first time the vessel’s complex engineering systems are subjected to real-world operational loads. Following the yacht’s recent float-out within the dock at the Amels main shipyard, the technical teams have now shifted their focus to performance validation. This phase serves to verify the naval architecture, propulsion efficiency, and dynamic positioning capabilities of the 6,083 Gross Ton (GT) platform. The North Sea, known for its challenging conditions, provides an exacting environment for these crucial tests.
The Journey of a Full Custom Build
Project Tanzanite is an Amels Full Custom build, a classification that denotes a completely bespoke project engineered from the keel up to meet specific owner requirements. This stands in contrast to the shipyard’s Limited Editions range, which utilizes pre-engineered platforms. The scale of this project required a dual-location construction strategy. The steel hull was originally fabricated at Damen’s facility in Galati, Romania. It arrived in the Netherlands in June 2023 for the complex outfitting phase.
Since its arrival in Vlissingen, the vessel has undergone extensive structural and technical integration. The move to sea trials signals that the propulsion, power generation, and navigation systems have reached a state of operational readiness. Damen Yachting, responsible for the naval architecture, utilizes this phase to ensure that the theoretical calculations regarding stability and speed align with the physical reality of the vessel in motion.















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