Project 406, world’s largest fishing runabout, nears completion

This week, though, the Dutch shipbuilder released a new batch of images of the six-level aluminium superyacht ahead of it being fitted with its uppermost deck, a sun awning hardtop and a mast to carry the radar’s radomes.

Measuring 52.0 metres in length, Project 406 – it is yet to announce its owner’s choice of names – features a long bow and high bulwarks that sweep through a falling sheerline to the large aft cockpit.

Project 406 was deliberately built with a tower featuring all-around views, important when sighting bait balls rising to the surface or backing up on a trophy fish.

“Not only is she [Project 406] the largest, but without doubt, the most bespoke, finely appointed, meticulously engineered and most impressive true sportfish yacht anywhere in the world - with all the amenities expected of a superyacht,” Royal Huisman said.

While the uppermost deck is yet to be fitted, testing of onboard systems and “innovative technical installations” – Royal Huisman doesn’t go into detail here – is almost completed.

The final stages of the build include transport to the launch site, the superyacht’s launch, and then sea trials to ensure everything works as planned.

No mention was made of the likely completion date. 

Project 406, first revealed in mid-2021 after its commission, uses classic sportsfisher lines but stretched and teased to fill a long, sleek profile.

When finished, it even has outriggers, a sea-level cockpit with room for a game chair, and observation platforms that overlook the cockpit from staggered upper-deck tiers.

The uppermost level forms an observation deck, much like the top of a tower fitted to a traditional 50-foot gamefisher.