The name Leviathan gives a sense of the size and scale of Oceanco’s just-launched gigayacht. Previously code-named Y722, the 364-foot behemoth certainly lives up to its name, but was designed as more of an ecosystem revolving around not just the vessel’s operations, which include both cruising and scientific research, but also the wellbeing of the owners, guests, and crew.
Leviathan also has its share of sustainability credentials, but the owner and design team went far beyond that to make the yacht a more user-friendly experience for everyone on board without compromising on its aesthetics. Typically, an owner and his personal designer mandate the look and, minus any technical glitches with the design, the shipyard does its best to fulfill it.
The yacht was designed to be more user-friendly for the owner and crew, with fewer high-maintenance wood and stainless-steel features.
Oceanco
In the case of Leviathan, the ship’s architecture was by Lateral Naval Architects and Oceanco, exterior design by Oceanco, and interiors by Mark Berryman Design. But the captain, crew and another 2,000 designers, engineers, and assorted experts also participated in the process, with their aggregate inputs included in the final design. A plaque near the main stairs lists everyone involved.
“Leviathan represents a new philosophy of yachting—one that places greater purpose at the heart of design, ownership and operations,” said Deniz de Koningh, the shipyard’s project director in a statement. “The owner’s vision sets a forward-thinking example of how yachts can be built and used with intent. We are excited to see the influence she may have in shaping the future of the industry.”
Oceanco isn’t releasing many details about its new yacht, but basketball is clearly one feature.
Oceanco Yachts
The vessel’s diesel-electric propulsion and battery banks have become common among the largest superyachts, as owners have come under fire for the amount of carbon emissions these giant yachts emit. While Leviathan‘s green credentials were nice, the larger goal was to “redirect effort toward higher-value work, not repetitive basic maintenance.”
That translates into incorporating honed stone and natural wool carpets into the interior to reduce necessary upkeep, while polished handrails with wooden caps, teak decks and other high-maintenance areas were replaced by composite decks and capping rails, and the full-glass-height bulkheads came without the usual stainless-steel trim. Instead of spending hours polishing, buffing and finessing the exterior to look shipshape, the crew can focus on enhancing the guest experience or supporting any scientific research happening on board. “She is not just a high-performance vessel,” says Charlie Birkett, CEO and co-founder of Y.CO, which served as a project manager for the build. “That is what happens when you put people and purpose at the center.”
Leviathan will begin sea trials soon, according to Oceanco, at which point the builder will release more details. The Dutch brand currently has four projects over 80 meters (262 feet) under construction. In June it launched project Y726, which measures 364 feet.
