Van der Valk Shipyard has started sea trials for MY Shine, the Dutch builder’s largest custom motor yacht to date. The 39.92-metre aluminium superyacht is now in the final phase of testing, with performance and onboard systems undergoing thorough evaluation before delivery. Completion of the trials and remaining outfitting works will see Shine handed over to her owners in time for the upcoming Mediterranean season.
Formerly known as Project EVO during construction, Shine was named at a launch ceremony at Van der Valk’s Waalwijk facilities, attended by her owners and the full design and engineering teams. Exterior styling comes from Cristiano Gatto Design, developed from an original concept by SFG Yacht Design and Fancy by Dada. The project grew from an initial 36-metre concept into the current 40-metre vessel, with the owners closely involved at every stage of the design process.
A key goal throughout was keeping the yacht manageable for an owner-operated crew while achieving the fit and finish typically found on much larger vessels. The interior draws on 78 different materials — among them ebony wood and fine leather — alongside bespoke furniture pieces created specifically for the yacht.
Shine is the latest product of Van der Valk’s custom-build philosophy. The family-run yard, with a pedigree spanning several generations, has built a worldwide reputation for bespoke motoryacht construction in the 25- to 45-metre range. Every vessel is designed and built from the keel up to the owner’s individual specifications. For Shine, that meant the owners bringing their own exterior designers to collaborate directly with Van der Valk’s craftsmen across metalwork, carpentry, engineering, painting and interior construction.
