Gabe Newell's €700 Million Deep-Sea Research Vessel Could Change Ocean Science Forever

LifestyleBoats & PlanesGabe Newell's €700 Million Deep-Sea Research Vessel Could Change Ocean Science ForeverByDea Jusufi,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dea Jusufi is a U.K.-based journalist covering the yachting industry.Follow AuthorJun 13, 2026, 10:47am EDTThe vessel is being built for Inkfish, the marine research organization founded by NewellVardBefore anyone says 'This isn’t a superyacht’; I know. But can we make an exception for Gabe Newell? The Valve founder is a serial superyacht owner (Leviathan, Rocinante, Draak—all his), and besides, REV Ocean, which is frequently cited as the world’s largest superyacht at 194.9 meters, isn’t technically a superyacht either. But that's beside the point.The point is that Newell is backing what could become the most capable deep-sea research vessel ever built, a €700 million project that has just become the largest single-vessel order in the history of Norwegian shipbuilder Vard. Yes, that's REV Ocean's Vard.Construction of the hull will take place at Vard's shipyard in RomaniaVardAt 162 meters long and designed to support up to 130 scientists, engineers, crew members and operators, RV11000 is closer to a floating exploration platform than a luxury explorer yacht. Laboratories, workshops, offices, and scientific workspaces are integrated throughout the ship, enabling RV11000 to reach and analyze nearly every corner of the world's oceans.The vessel is being built for Inkfish, the marine research organization founded by Newell, which has rapidly emerged as one of the most ambitious privately funded ocean science initiatives in the world.MORE FOR YOUInkfish and the Rise of Billionaire-Funded Ocean ScienceThe contract, valued at nearly €700 million, represents not only the largest order ever secured by Vard, a subsidiary of Italy's Fincantieri Group, but also the largest vessel contract of its kind awarded to any Norwegian shipyard.F...