Van der Valk starts construction of custom 30-metre Project Berlin

Van der Valk Shipyard, builder of bespoke and boutique custom superyachts up to 45 metres in length, have started construction of a new, 30-metre custom aluminium yacht being built as Project Berlin. The raised pilothouse yacht, which features purposeful and dynamic lines, offers the space and comfort of a larger superyacht while staying under the 24-metre regulatory threshold, offering the best of both worlds for her experienced owners who are moving up from a serial production yacht.

“We started talking with the owners in January 2025, and at that time they had been contemplating moving to another serial production build, but they also wanted the opportunity to develop a custom interior layout and design,” begins Yoeri Bijker, Commercial Director at Van der Valk Shipyard. “This was important to them as they anticipate staying on the boat for extended periods, from April till October – they are really building this boat for themselves, and not for charter nor for carrying many guests onboard, which other owners might do. Our initial discussions led to a conceptual design phase, during which we were able to develop their ideas with the shipyard team and Guido de Groot Design.”

The resulting custom yacht draws on work that Van der Valk and the Guido de Groot team had been doing on raised pilothouse designs. “We had already made several studies to envisage what a more modern version of raised pilothouse yachts we’ve built at Van der Valk would look like, so we had some initial artist impressions already,” says Guido de Groot. “They were a good starting point for these clients, who wanted something modern, and then the design progressed according to their needs beginning with the aft area with a high-low swimming platform and aft garage, then the large saloon, the raised pilothouse itself, and a large owners’ suite forward.”

Space race

The yacht will feature an asymmetric layout, with the portside crew passage slightly smaller than the starboard guest sidedeck to allow for more interior volume on the 7-metre beam. The result is an airy salon with forward dining area that benefits from large windows for light and views. The windows, while offering more light than doors thanks to the lack of mullions, will also open to allow fresh air through the interior – no small engineering feat given the panes measure just under three metres long by two metres high. “We have done drop-down windows before on previous projects,” offers Valentijn Roos, project engineer at Van der Valk Shipyard, “but not at this size of window, so that has been quite a challenge for the design.”

The sense of space found in the salon is continued through to the lower deck guest accommodation which comprises just two large VIP ensuite staterooms. “Normally on a 30-metre yacht you would see four guest staterooms, but that simply didn’t match the owners’ way of using this particular vessel,” explains Bijker. “In fact, that’s one of the reasons why they were leaning toward building something custom.”

The master suite, meanwhile, will benefit from the full beam forward on the main deck and will feature large opening windows similar to the salon, ensuring not only that the extended glazing delivers incredible sea vistas but also that the suite can enjoy fresh air ventilation.

Interior design

The yacht will feature a full custom interior that blends modern style with comfort. Loose furniture will add to the relaxed feel. “It won’t be minimalistic, but quite playful in terms of ambiance, and designed to the owners’ tastes,” says De Groot. “They’ve really enjoyed developing the interiors of their houses, so it’s going to be a nice project working with them on creating this interior.”

The exterior spaces are equally important, and the relatively large beam means that the project offers expansive decks for her size. “We have a very large sundeck which offers an aft spa pool with wraparound sunpads, and a lot of seating and dining areas, plus the bow deck with seating and sunpads,” confirms De Groot. “There’s also a very big outdoor galley on the sundeck complete with its own barbecue grill area – both indoor and outdoor living are very important to the owners in terms of the dimensions we have, and we have worked really hard on maximising the layout.”

Technical detail

Keeping the yacht below the 24-metre regulatory boundary confers several benefits. For example, it simplifies the requirements for the technical installation by removing the need for Tier III-compliant exhaust scrubbers, which in turn allows for a tender garage (taking a Williams Dieseljet 415) that can partially extend into a dedicated watertight compartment within the engine room without compromising the technical installation or access to service points.

It also simplifies the need for compliance with crew area regulations – however, in this regard, the owners and the Van der Valk team have ensured that the crew, who are accommodated in three cabins, have plenty of space including a large crew mess. This was deemed a core priority as, with the yacht being a partial liveaboard, crew welfare is a top priority for the owners and the shipyard. The result is an expansive area that even includes a dedicated laundry – something often not found even on significantly larger superyachts.

Underpinning the project is a hard chine semi-displacement hull which will meet the owners’ requirements for performance. Project Berlin is projected to offer a top speed of 24 knots with a cruise of 20 knots, while a two-metre draft will ensure she can enjoy shallower bays and anchorages.

The yacht is being built not only to the highest quality standards – with Van der Valk’s trademark craftsmanship and the renowned Dutch engineering and finishing – but also to the MCA’s MGN 280 regulations, which ensures construction standards. With the build now underway – the keel was officially laid on 27 November 2025 – the team is continuing to refine the interior style alongside the owners while the hotworks on the aluminium hull are completed.

Project Berlin is scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2027.