44m Heesen BILMAR Offered by Fraser at €10.9 Million

Heesen craftsmanship and a clearly priced opportunity

The 43.89-metre motor yacht BILMAR is being marketed by Fraser at an asking price of €10.9 million, described in its official listing as EU VAT paid. Delivered by Heesen in 2004, she is a fast aluminium yacht that remains with the original owning family according to the broker. The listing places her in a distinctive part of the market: a vessel with the size and accommodation of a substantial tri-deck superyacht, but a stated maximum speed closer to fast cruising yachts than conventional full-displacement vessels.

An asking price and tax statement are essential starting points, not substitutes for legal due diligence. A purchaser must establish exactly which entity owns BILMAR, which documents support the VAT-paid description, and how the intended flag and use affect any tax treatment. The attraction of original ownership is continuity of knowledge and potentially more complete records; it does not independently prove condition. Buyers should test the history against original yard documents, invoices and the physical state of the vessel.

The trade-off between speed and endurance

Fraser quotes a 28-knot maximum speed and lists twin MTU engines rated at 3,640 horsepower each. The broker also describes operation around 23 knots for faster passages and a more economical profile that permits substantially longer journeys. Its specifications give a range of 3,700 nautical miles, a figure that should be tied to the precise speed, load and reserve assumptions used when calculated. BILMAR has an 8.5-metre beam and displaces her interior over 414 gross tons of enclosed volume.

For an owner choosing between Mediterranean hops and open-water journeys, the ability to change speed is useful only when operating budgets are understood. A high-speed run consumes fuel differently from a slow passage, and generator demand, water conditions and hull cleanliness all alter the numbers. The sensible next step is to request recent fuel logs, engine loading records and speed-and-consumption data. Sea trials should reproduce the speeds that the intended owner will actually use rather than focus solely on a short maximum-speed demonstration.

A main-deck owner suite and five guest cabins

BILMAR accommodates 12 guests in six suites, with the full-beam principal accommodation on the main deck and five additional guest cabins below. That is an unusual amount of private accommodation for a yacht measuring just under 44 metres, and it can provide real flexibility for families, multi-generational holidays or owners who regularly invite several couples. Fraser describes expansive interior volumes, a main saloon, dining room and sky lounge, all features that make the vessel a residence rather than simply a fast means of transport.

An inviting arrangement in photographs can conceal circulation challenges. Buyers ought to walk the routes between guest suites, crew areas and the galley, then assess privacy when everyone is aboard. BILMAR is advertised with accommodation for seven crew, so staffing levels and service procedures deserve specific attention. Six guest suites may require a different hospitality routine from a conventional four-cabin yacht. Storage, laundry, galley capacity and the extent of guest sound insulation should be checked during a full-length viewing.

Outdoor living across three working decks

The broker identifies an aft bridge-deck dining area, main-deck seating, a fold-out bathing platform and a sundeck fitted with a Jacuzzi. A forward sunpad and seating areas also give guests alternatives when the wind or sun changes. In warmer cruising regions, the value of these spaces lies as much in shade and practical circulation as in the number of loungers. Adjustable louvres are described over part of the sun deck, a detail worth testing under realistic conditions.

Sundeck machinery and moving bathing platforms require detailed inspection. A buyer should confirm age, service history and safe working load of the platform, the condition of the hot-tub structure, and the means of protecting exposed fittings in rougher weather. Tender handling, emergency escape routes and unobstructed crew access matter during busy anchorages. The outdoor arrangements are a strong part of BILMAR’s appeal, but the maintenance required to keep them usable should be included in the owner’s annual planning.

Engineering changes and classification

Fraser reports major work on the main engines in 2017 and the installation of larger new generators in 2020. The listing also identifies ABS classification, a Malta flag and a commercially compliant original build. These are informative disclosures, particularly for a yacht whose speed places meaningful demand on propulsion equipment. The distinction between the year of a machine’s installation and the current service status of that machine remains critical; generator replacement six years ago does not amount to a present warranty.

Surveyors should obtain MTU records showing the precise scope of the 2017 engine work, subsequent running hours and oil analysis. Generator installation documentation, ventilation arrangements, load tests and electrical drawings would also be essential. Buyers should independently verify the yacht’s current ABS class status and the meaning of commercial compliance under any proposed use. The flag stated in a sales description may change when a transaction completes, and legal requirements should be checked against current registry records.

Design identity and the buyer’s decision

Omega Architects is credited with the yacht’s exterior lines, while Fraser identifies Veta Tsoukala’s involvement in the interior alongside the artistic direction of the original owner. This combination may be especially appealing to someone who values a recognizable personality instead of an anonymous contemporary refurbishment. Retaining original design character can be an advantage, though it may also require custom craftsmen when finishes or fittings need repair. An independent interior condition report is therefore useful alongside the mechanical survey.

Fraser says BILMAR can be inspected in Athens, giving interested parties a practical setting for an initial technical assessment. The next stage is to establish title, VAT evidence, inventory and refit history before commissioning sea trials and a haul-out survey. Her six-cabin configuration, aluminium construction and claimed performance create a distinctive package at the stated asking price. Whether that package represents value will be decided by the documentary trail, condition, operating costs and the owner’s intended style of cruising.

Primary reporting is based on the official brokerage information. Consult the builder or broker yacht particulars for current equipment and commercial terms.