Oceanco
Oceanco is a privately owned Dutch builder of large, custom-designed superyachts.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Oceanco is a Dutch custom superyacht builder specializing in large, full-displacement motor yachts and other highly bespoke vessels. The company was established in 1987 by a group of South African private investors led by Richard Hein. In its early operating model, hulls and superstructures were fabricated in Durban, South Africa, before being transported to the Netherlands for completion and finishing work. This cross-border production arrangement connected Oceanco with the Dutch maritime manufacturing base while allowing the business to develop experience in building large yachts. A major strategic change came in 2002, when Theodore Angelopoulos took control of the company. Under his ownership, Oceanco concentrated on the niche market for yachts of approximately 80 metres and above. This strategy produced a generation of large custom yachts, sometimes referred to as the company’s “Y Generation,” including Amevi and Alfa Nero. Oceanco subsequently developed a reputation for combining substantial scale with individualized naval architecture, exterior styling, interior design and onboard amenities. The company expanded its portfolio through a succession of large deliveries. Notable examples include Anastasia, Vibrant Curiosity, Sunrays, Man of Steel, Nirvana, Amore Vero, Equanimity and Infinity. These yachts were designed in collaboration with internationally recognized naval architects and design studios, including Nuvolari & Lenard, Terence Disdale and Sam Sorgiovanni. The projects demonstrated Oceanco’s ability to manage complex, highly customized vessels with features such as large interior volumes, atriums, swimming pools and extensive owner-specific layouts. Mohammed Al Barwani, an Omani private investor, acquired Oceanco in March 2010. Marcel Onkenhout, who had spent many years with the company, served as chief executive during the subsequent period of expansion and project delivery. Oceanco invested in its Alblasserdam site near Rotterdam, acquiring adjacent land and replacing older buildings and slips with a covered dry dock. The enlarged facilities provide direct access through the Dutch inland-waterway network to the North Sea and support the construction of yachts substantially larger than the company’s earlier vessels. Oceanco’s business encompasses concept development, naval architecture coordination, engineering, construction, interior completion and delivery of custom superyachts. Its extended production facility covers approximately 8.2 hectares, and the company has stated that it can have several yachts above 80 metres at different stages of design and construction simultaneously. The yard has built yachts reaching more than 100 metres, while its covered facilities are capable of accommodating projects up to approximately 140 metres. Oceanco also maintains a sales, design, marketing and communications office in Monaco. The builder attracted international attention in 2022 over a proposed temporary removal of the middle span of Rotterdam’s historic De Hef bridge to allow a very large yacht under construction to reach the sea. Public opposition led Oceanco to withdraw the request. The episode illustrated the logistical and civic challenges associated with constructing and moving exceptionally large yachts in densely developed Dutch waterways. In 2025, reports stated that Oceanco Group had acquired Dutch maritime systems integrator Alewijnse and had purchased a business complex in Zwijndrecht. The latter transaction was reported as adding approximately 13,400 square metres to the group’s facilities in the area. In August 2025, the company was reported to have come under the ownership of Gabe Newell, an American video-game developer and businessman. Oceanco remains positioned as a specialist in the upper end of the global custom superyacht industry, where projects are few in number, long in development and individually engineered rather than mass-produced.
History
Oceanco was founded in 1987 by South African private investors led by Richard Hein. The company initially used a distributed production model: large hulls and superstructures were built in Durban, while completion and finishing work took place at facilities in the Netherlands. This arrangement gave the young builder access to South African fabrication capacity and the established Dutch maritime supply chain. The company changed direction after Theodore Angelopoulos took control in 2002. Oceanco adopted a deliberate focus on the market for 80-metre-plus megayachts, a segment characterized by long development cycles, extensive owner customization and technically demanding construction. The resulting group of yachts included the 80-metre Amevi and the 82-metre Alfa Nero, helping establish Oceanco as a builder of large, individually commissioned vessels rather than a producer of standardized yacht models. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Oceanco delivered a series of prominent projects. Anastasia was launched in 2008, followed in 2009 by the 85.47-metre Vibrant Curiosity, which incorporated an amidships atrium, a seven-metre pool and unusually large interior spaces. Sunrays, an 85.50-metre yacht, was delivered in March 2010. The 86-metre Man of Steel followed in November 2010, and the 88.50-metre Nirvana was delivered in spring 2012. St. Princess Olga, later renamed Amore Vero, was delivered in 2013, followed by the 91.50-metre Equanimity in 2014 and the 88.50-metre Infinity in 2015. Mohammed Al Barwani acquired Oceanco in March 2010. Marcel Onkenhout, a long-serving company executive, was chief executive during this phase. The business also invested in its physical infrastructure. After acquiring adjacent land in 2008, Oceanco began demolishing older buildings and slips in 2010 to create a new covered dry dock. The expanded facility in Alblasserdam, around 20 kilometres from Rotterdam, has direct access to the Dutch inland-waterway system and the North Sea. The covered dock enables construction of yachts up to approximately 140 metres. By 2017, Jubilee was identified as Oceanco's largest completed yacht at that time; it was renamed Kaos in 2018. In the same year, the company launched the 109-metre Project Bravo. Oceanco has reported building dozens of custom superyachts, including vessels up to and beyond 100 metres, and has described a production model capable of handling several 80-metre-plus yachts at different design, engineering and construction stages. Oceanco became involved in a major public infrastructure controversy in 2022. The company sought permission to temporarily remove the middle span of De Hef, a historic bridge in Rotterdam, to permit the departure of an exceptionally large yacht. Public criticism included threats by residents to throw objects at the vessel, and Oceanco withdrew its request in June 2022. The incident highlighted the unusual transport and infrastructure requirements created by very large yacht construction in the Netherlands. The company continued to expand its industrial footprint and maritime capabilities in 2025. Reports said that Oceanco Group acquired Alewijnse, a Dutch maritime systems integrator, and purchased a business complex in Zwijndrecht that would add about 13,400 square metres to its facilities. In August 2025, Oceanco was reported to have been acquired by Gabe Newell. The group also maintains a Monaco office supporting sales, design, marketing and communications. Its core business remains the design coordination, engineering, construction and completion of bespoke superyachts for an international clientele.
- 2025
Reported expansion and ownership change
[1]Reports describe Oceanco Group's acquisition of Alewijnse, a Zwijndrecht property purchase, and Gabe Newell becoming the reported owner.
- 2022
De Hef bridge request is withdrawn
[1]After public opposition to a proposed temporary removal of part of Rotterdam's De Hef bridge, Oceanco withdraws its request.
- 2018
Project Bravo is launched
[1]Oceanco launches the 109-metre Project Bravo.
- 2017
Jubilee is completed
[1]Jubilee becomes the largest yacht built by Oceanco at that point; it is renamed Kaos in 2018.
- 2015
Infinity is delivered
[1]Oceanco delivers the 88.50-metre Infinity.
- 2014
Equanimity is delivered
[1]The 91.50-metre Equanimity is delivered, reinforcing Oceanco's position in the very-large-yacht segment.
- 2012
Nirvana is delivered
[1]Oceanco delivers the 88.50-metre Nirvana, designed externally by Sam Sorgiovanni.
- 2010
Ownership changes and facility expansion begins
[1]Mohammed Al Barwani acquires Oceanco, while the company begins replacing older yard structures with a covered dry dock for much larger yachts.
- 2009
Vibrant Curiosity is launched
[1]The 85.47-metre Vibrant Curiosity enters service with a large interior volume, an amidships atrium and a seven-metre pool.
- 2008
Anastasia is launched
[1]Oceanco launches the 75.50-metre Anastasia.
Products and positioning
A premium, engineering-led builder of exceptionally large, one-off superyachts for globally wealthy private owners, emphasizing bespoke design, technical capability and Dutch maritime construction expertise.
Superyachts · 1987
Custom full-displacement superyachts
Oceanco's core offering is the one-off, full-displacement superyacht. Each vessel is developed around an owner's requirements and combines custom naval architecture, engineering, exterior styling, interior design and systems integration. The company focuses particularly on very large yachts, including projects in the 80-metre-plus category and vessels exceeding 100 metres.
Large custom yachts · 2002
Y Generation
The Y Generation describes a strategic group of large Oceanco yachts developed after the company shifted its focus toward the 80-metre-plus market. Amevi and Alfa Nero are associated with this generation and illustrate the combination of long-range displacement capability, large-scale accommodation and highly individualized design.
Ultra-large custom yachts · 2018
100-metre-plus yachts
Oceanco undertakes exceptionally large yacht projects, including the 109-metre Project Bravo and other reported vessels above 100 metres. These projects require specialized covered construction space, extensive systems engineering, complex logistics and coordination with multiple external designers and suppliers.
Marine services · 1987
Yacht completion and refit services
The company's production model includes engineering, construction, finishing and completion work. Its Dutch facilities support large-scale fabrication and final integration, while its waterway access enables movement of completed or substantially completed yachts toward the North Sea.
Brand decisions
2025
Reported acquisition of AlewijnseM&ABackground
Oceanco Group sought to broaden its maritime engineering and systems capabilities.
Action taken
Reports stated that the group acquired Dutch maritime systems integrator Alewijnse.
Aftermath
The reported transaction expanded Oceanco Group's connection to maritime electrical, automation and systems integration activities.
2022
Withdrawal of the De Hef bridge-removal requestOtherBackground
A very large yacht under construction required a route from Oceanco's inland yard to the North Sea, creating a conflict with Rotterdam's historic De Hef bridge.
Action taken
After strong public opposition, Oceanco withdrew its request to temporarily remove the bridge's central span.
Aftermath
The withdrawal ended the immediate bridge dispute while drawing wider attention to the infrastructure and community issues associated with ultra-large yacht construction.
2010
Construction of a new covered dry dockStrategyBackground
Oceanco needed larger and more modern facilities to support its expanding focus on very large yachts.
Action taken
The company demolished older buildings and slips and developed a covered dry dock within its expanded Alblasserdam site.
Aftermath
The facility increased the yard's ability to construct yachts up to approximately 140 metres and improved its capacity to handle multiple large projects.
2002
Focus on the 80-metre-plus yacht nicheStrategyBackground
After Theodore Angelopoulos took control, Oceanco sought to distinguish itself in the small but high-value market for very large custom yachts.
Action taken
The company concentrated its design and production strategy on yachts of approximately 80 metres and above, developing a related generation of large projects.
Aftermath
The strategy led to a portfolio of major yachts including Amevi and Alfa Nero and established Oceanco as a specialist in the upper end of the superyacht market.
Recent events
Oceanco announces planned debut of STILETTO yacht at Dubai Boat Show[2]
Reported:
Oceanco announced that its 107m STILETTO yacht would be unveiled and make its debut on the first evening of the Dubai Boat Show, taking place March 3–7 at Mina Seyahi Marina.
Sources2 sources
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