Gabe described the experience of building Leviathan as remarkably collaborative. “They make you feel like part of the team,” he said. That spirit of teamwork soon opened the door to deeper conversations with Marcel and Dr. Barwani about how his background and passion could help move Oceanco forward
The 111-meter yacht Leviathan didn’t just add another masterpiece to Oceanco’s portfolio, it sparked a partnership that would change the company’s future.
That’s where Gabe Newell, best known as the founder of Valve and a driving force in the gaming world, first discovered Oceanco’s way of working. What began as the design and build of his own yacht turned into something bigger: an invitation to join the Oceanco story not just as a client, but as a shareholder.
Gabe described the experience of building Leviathan as remarkably collaborative. “They make you feel like part of the team,” he said. That spirit of teamwork soon opened the door to deeper conversations with Marcel and Dr. Barwani about how his background and passion could help move Oceanco forward.
Unlike many new investors, Gabe isn’t interested in changing Oceanco’s identity. He believes its culture and priorities are already strong. For him, growth isn’t about size but about quality and impact. “At this stage, my role is simply to support the things Oceanco already wanted to do,” he said.
That support is already visible. The recent acquisition of system integrator Alewijnse shows Oceanco’s intent to expand strategically, bringing greater integration and collaboration into the group that already includes Lateral, Mercury, and Aluship.
With decades of experience in pushing technology forward, Gabe sees opportunities to introduce innovation over time. But he’s not rushing. First comes strengthening what Oceanco already excels at. Later, he envisions identifying promising technologies, prototyping them, and moving them into production in ways that genuinely serve clients.
What makes Gabe’s perspective unique is that he speaks as both a client and a shareholder. For him, Oceanco is first and foremost a customer-focused yacht builder. He is especially interested in creating long-term value for owners while also strengthening crew-centric design. This philosophy was central to Leviathan and will continue to guide future projects.
“What gets me out of bed in the morning is doing work that communities value,” Gabe reflected. For him, stepping into the yachting world is exciting but also humbling. He sees Oceanco as more than a builder of extraordinary yachts.
He sees it as a community he can contribute to, a force for good in an industry built on creativity, craftsmanship, and collaboration.
News Source: Oceanco Official Website
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