KITZBÜHEL, Austria – Dutch naval architect and yacht designer Frank Mulder received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from Boat International Media at the latter’s annual Design and Innovation Awards event. The jury noted the massive breadth of Mulder’s work in naval architecture, yacht design and engineering in all construction materials.
After graduating from Haarlem University, Mulder became a production manager at Amels Shipyard in 1974. He soon moved to Damen Group, where he headed the high-speed vessel program for military and commercial ships.
In 1979, he opened his studio. His first superyacht design was that of the 38m (125ft) tri-deck Tropic C that Heesen Yachts launched in 1986. He followed that up with the 34m Wheels (1987) and (at right) Octopussy (1988), the yacht that brought him global acclaim.
Octopussy bested the speed record of 53.7 knots, set by Fortuna, owned by the King of Spain. Mulder would go on to deliver designs for the 66.7-knot Moonraker, and the 67-knot The World is Not Enough. His most recent award-winning yacht was the 21.5 knot, full-displacement Benetti-built Spectre.
Fast yachts were not Mulder’s only forte. Other superyachts bearing his signature include the 46m Vicem Vulcan and the 46.85m Heesen-built Blowsy, five beautiful custom Cheoy Lee superyachts, and many coastal cruisers from such yards as Moonen, Elling, Mulder Shipyard, Vitesse, Van Dutch and Riviera.
Mulder’s mark is on nearly 1,000 hulls in a notable portfolio spanning 50 years, from naval patrol vessels to tenders to superyachts. In 2022, Frank Mulder stepped down in 2022 and was succeeded by their son, Bas, who graduated from the same maritime architecture school as Frank.
