The Leviathan is perhaps the most modern, minimalist, and maritime office in the world, owned by Valve Corporation co-founder and CEO Gabe Newell. The billionaire now also owns Oceanco shipyard, and this flagship, which operates as part of Inkfish, his organization dedicated to marine science, is proof of that vision. The $500 million vessel is so advanced that a simple essay on its efficiency will not suffice. The magic of imagery is essential to truly fathom what Oceanco has created for Inkfish. Inkfish has become one of the most significant private oceanographic initiatives in the world, and Leviathan, a research-capable expedition yacht that is part of the fleet, aims to support field science, diving operations, remote work, and longer self-sufficient missions.
For this purpose, the yacht has it all, from a dive center instead of a beach club and laboratories to silent nighttime operation via a 5.5 MWh battery system and a custom air filtration and monitoring system for long passages and enclosed spaces, among many other features. But it also ensures that people matter onboard and encourages friendships, collaboration, and mingling. As Gabe Newell said, “Yachts have great potential to serve as platforms for scientific research. It’s about recognizing that you’re part of a broader community.” Leviathan as seen in the Youtube video, stands for both in equal measure, community and science.
What you see here is not a lab section but a specialized cleaning station, including a mirrored, locker-style cabinet, part of the yacht’s operational-efficiency design. It is organized with industrial-grade spray bottles, squeegees, and supplies to streamline repetitive maintenance tasks.
A well-equipped gym with CrossFit and strength-training equipment for guests and crew prepares them for the physical challenges of research work in the remotest corners of the planet. Aboard Leviathan, physical preparedness matters just as much as technical prowess.
All work and no play is not the mantra aboard this Oceanco mammoth. The dedicated basketball court is one of the most unique features of Leviathan, which encourages teamwork. It is part of a suite of amenities that also includes a gym and whirlpool, all designed to foster a collaborative environment for both the 26 guests and 37 crew members.
A lesser known aspect is the music room, where technology and art intersect. Keeping the communal and collaborative spirit of Leviathan alive, this music and media space with drums, acoustic and electric guitars and other musical equipment on the bridge deck is designed as a social hub.
These high-tech massage chairs ensure that after a long day of work, sports, or diving, the body can recover while the spa takes care of the mind. The comfortable recliners are part of the recovery lounge, which sits within a 2,000-square-foot wellness area that also includes a gym, a spa, and a specialized recovery room.
Leviathan merges with the ocean through touches of blue, including the glass-bottomed pool seen in the image. It feels like a little slice of the sea aboard the 364-footer.
The dive center serves as the cornerstone of the vessel owned by the Valve billionaire. It is part of a larger Inkfish ecosystem featuring a scientific laboratory, an onboard hospital, and a 3D-printing workshop for manufacturing spare parts during long-range oceanographic initiatives.
The action shifts to the bridge deck, where 15 individual high-performance PC workstations are arranged to support network matches and mid-sea LAN parties. For a video game billionaire, this could truly work as a floating office for his team, especially as it also has two professional-grade racing simulators, one of which is an Aston Martin-branded F1 simulator.
The 63 year old tycoon worth $11 billion, has put his philosophy of “people and purpose” into action on the main deck, where a massive aft swimming pool becomes a buzzing social space for everyone onboard, including the crew. The lack of hierarchy is very apparent. In the formal main saloon, there is also a massive communal dining area seating up to 54 people.
The researchers, scientists, and crew of 37 who support groundbreaking oceanographic studies, including mapping unexplored areas and reaching the deepest points of the world’s oceans, relax and reset on the foredeck of the Oceanco flagship with yoga and exercise, readying the mind and body for another day of remote missions.
The day appears to end with a screening in the outdoor theater, another feature designed to bring people together. It is located in the space surrounding the pool, creating a communal entertainment zone for everyone onboard.
On long missions, with several weeks spent away from home, the team and crew of Leviathan are obviously close, and such friendships and connections can be created and celebrated over cozy corners flanking the decks. Some of these spaces even feature an avant-garde open-flame fire pit surrounded by a sleek, transparent glass wind guard.
A sneak peek at the glass wall panel engraved with the names of nearly 3,000 individuals who contributed to the yacht’s creation. This includes everyone from the Oceanco design team and Mark Berryman Design to the crew, co-makers, and a vast network of suppliers.
Inkfish recently completed significant global research projects like the Solomon Islands expedition using RV Hydra. RV Dagon was also deployed in the southeastern Pacific for mapping extreme points of the seafloor using multibeam echosounders and for making observations at full-ocean depths. Leviathan is part of this broader effort, alongside the under-construction $300 million, 328-foot RV6000 research vessel being built by VARD.
