Yacht Leviathan Owner Gabe Newell Has a Vision Unlike Any Other

If you see the yacht Leviathan cruise by in the coming months, you’ll certainly be struck by her size. She’s 364 feet (111 meters), with accommodations for 26 guests and 37 among the captain and crew. However, the way those staterooms and social areas unfold throughout the decks is, quite simply, unique. “Unique” is an overused word, often incorrectly at that, but in this case it’s accurate. “We knew we were asking for unusual things, and Oceanco embraced it with open arms,” says Leviathan owner Gabe Newell. “Not only have we designed a very unusual yacht that leans into Oceanco’s strengths of innovation and design, but the team has also been willing to collaborate with us on evolving the process,” he says.

The design is indeed evolved. Take, for instance, the guest and crew accommodations. On every superyacht, whether she’s the smallest or the largest afloat, guest staterooms and crew cabins are distinctly separate. By contrast, built with her crew’s input from day one, this megayacht blends them together. “With 28 years of experience designing superyacht interiors, we’ve encountered nearly every possible scenario—or so we thought,” shares Mark Berryman, Leviathan’s interior designer. The rethinking of space to create more of a community feel was refreshing, he adds. It even extends to lounges, like the bridge-deck saloon, which instead is a fun game room. In fact, 15 gaming stations, two race simulators, and abundant seating let the bosuns and Newell’s best friends play side by side. On the main deck, meanwhile, the saloon is a group mess, for up to all 54 to dine together.

Gabe Newell, Oceanco superyacht client and owner

If this all sounds strange, it makes perfect sense to Leviathan owner Gabe Newell. Deeply involved in the design process, he encouraged all parties to work more collaboratively. He especially wanted to raise the bar on crew wellbeing and retention. You’ll still find some areas reserved for them, of course. This includes a 3D printing workshop for spare parts. But, some of those crew-only areas have outfitting akin to guest areas, with oak and wenge finishes. The basketball court out on deck and the sundeck, complete with hot tub, are available to the crew, too. Plus, the gaming lounge doubles as a crew classroom of sorts, for quiet learning. “Leviathan challenged convention in a completely new and exciting way from an operational standpoint,” Berryman asserts.

Newell himself says, “We adopted a crew-centric approach that really digs into how Leviathan is operated and maintained.” Specifically, he says, “The goal was to consider where the most valuable experiences occur for the community of people onboard. By increasing crew productivity, we can enable them to focus more on engaging with guests and creating meaningful experiences for everyone.” That concept extends to reducing time for maintenance, and eliminating high-maintenance items. For instance, Bolidt synthetic decking is more durable and requires less upkeep than teak. It additionally features a pattern drawing upon the yacht’s silhouette. Synthetic handrails similarly require less polishing, as do the bead-blasted stainless steel railings. Many more items, from the off-white exterior paint to interior leathered and honed stone finishes, boast dirt resistance and durability as well.

Lastly, the yacht Leviathan will support scientific exploration. Once again, guests and crew alike can join in on discoveries. The yacht is the newest member of a fleet of vessels in Newell’s marine-research organization Inkfish. A thoroughly outfitted dive center, a lab, and a hospital (where you’d expect to find a beach club) are aboard. “Yachts have great potential to serve as platforms for scientific research,” Newell points out. “It’s about recognizing that you’re part of a broader community and ensuring the yacht’s presence adds value to the communities around it.”

“What makes Leviathan so unique is the way she came to life,” sums up Marcel Onkenhout, Oceanco’s CEO. “From the very start, we knew nothing about her would be done in a traditional way.” As much as every Oceanco delivery is an entirely custom, and often forward-thinking, project, the depth of collaboration “sets Leviathan apart from anything we’ve built before.” Ultimately, it led to Newell buying Oceanco, too. “Just about everything I’ve been involved in over the years has moved some aspect of technology forward in a way that benefits customers,” Newell notes. “Over time, we will start to identify interesting technologies, prototype them, and move them into production.”

Mark Berryman Design markberrymandesign.com

Oceanco oceancoyacht.com