The Dutch superyacht builder Oceanco is entering a new era under the ownership of Gabe Newell, the U.S. billionaire and founder of the gaming and tech company Valve.
A long-time supporter of Oceanco, Newell has acquired the shipyard from the Barwani family, a prominent Omani business family known for their involvement in the oil, yacht, and technology sectors.
Under the Barwani family’s ownership over the past 15 years, Oceanco rose to prominence as one of the world’s leading builders of large, fully custom private yachts. Signature projects during their tenure include “Kaos”, “Bravo Eugenia”, “Black Pearl”, and “Koru“. The family remains active in the yacht sector, continuing their involvement with Turquoise Yachts in Turkey.
Gabe Newell to develop Oceanco without changing core team or strategy
Gabe Newell is not seen as a passive investor but as a visionary entrepreneur with a personal passion for maritime craftsmanship. He aims to further develop Oceanco’s capabilities without changing its core team or strategic direction. The focus, he emphasized, remains on people – both within the company and in its client relationships. “This isn’t about buying a yacht company,” Newell stated. “It’s about joining a team and building something together.”
Oceanco, based in South Holland, has been building motor yachts since 1990 and has specialized in custom megayachts over 80 meters since 2005. Its state-of-the-art facilities in Alblasserdam include a climate-controlled hall for yachts up to 130 meters and a covered dry dock for vessels up to 140 meters, with direct sea access via inland waterways.
