Gabe Newell’s 304-foot (about 93-meter) support yacht Draak has officially returned to service after an extensive 2.5-year rebuild at Oceanco’s facilities in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, emerging with an entirely new purpose. Formerly known as Tranquility, the yacht has undergone a transformation that, according to our estimates, cost more than $35 million, evolving from a luxury superyacht into a highly specialized support vessel for Newell’s 364-foot (111-meter) flagship, Leviathan.
The delivery marks the culmination of one of the most ambitious yacht conversion projects undertaken by the Dutch builder in recent years. After completing the rebuild earlier this year, Draak entered sea trials last month before being formally delivered. AIS data now shows the gigantic support vessel cruising through the Celtic Sea on its way to Clydeport Greenock in Scotland, signaling the beginning of its new operational role, as pointed out by the Superyacht Times.
From luxury retreat to expedition support vessel
Originally launched by Oceanco in 2014, Draak has lived several lives. Built as Equanimity before later becoming Tranquility, the yacht is now part of Gabe Newell’s growing fleet of research-focused vessels under the Inkfish organization. The Valve co-founder, who also owns Oceanco, has increasingly shifted his attention toward ocean exploration and marine science, with additional research vessels currently under construction alongside his expanding fleet.
Rather than preserving Draak as a traditional luxury yacht, Newell chose to completely redefine her mission. The most visible change came with the removal of the upper aft helideck, an unusual decision for a yacht of this size. In its place, Oceanco created a large working tender deck equipped with heavy-duty C-davits capable of launching and recovering a dedicated dive tender. A powerful 12.6-ton jib crane was also integrated into the upper deck, enabling the handling of research equipment, tenders and subsea gear that would be impractical aboard a conventional superyacht.
The rebuild also extended the boarding platform, adding retractable fenders and new swim stairs to improve diver access and recovery while increasing the yacht’s overall length by around one meter. Inside, the former beach club and spa have been converted into a fully equipped dive center complete with a decompression chamber, underscoring Draak’s new focus on supporting extended underwater operations rather than leisure alone.
Luxury spaces were similarly reimagined throughout the yacht. The main deck saloon has become a spacious crew mess, while another saloon has been transformed into a chef’s laboratory designed for intimate dining experiences shared by crew and guests. Flexible accommodation has also been introduced through adaptable cabins that can house additional specialists, scientists or crew members depending on each expedition’s requirements.
Built to work alongside Leviathan
Draak now serves as the dedicated support yacht for the $500 million Leviathan, forming a closely integrated two-vessel system. While Leviathan remains the primary platform for guests, scientific research and onboard facilities, Draak has been redesigned to handle the operational side of each mission. She can transport dive teams, deploy specialist tenders, lift heavy equipment, provide additional accommodation, and support complex underwater expeditions, allowing Leviathan to remain focused on research and hospitality.
The two yachts also now share a common visual identity. New images suggest Draak has adopted the same cream-colored finish and low-maintenance Bolidt synthetic decking seen aboard Leviathan, replacing traditional teak and reinforcing the pair’s coordinated design philosophy.
The rebuild was carried out under Oceanco’s Life Cycle Support program by much of the original design team, working alongside owner’s representative YTMC, interior specialist Vedder and the crews of both yachts. Oceanco has described the project as so comprehensive that engineers effectively had to open up the entire vessel to redesign interconnected electrical, ventilation and technical systems. The result is far more than a refit. Draak has been reborn as a purpose-built expedition support yacht, ready to play a central role in Gabe Newell’s growing ambitions for ocean exploration.
