Dutch shipyard Oceanco has announced the relaunch of the 92.8-metre superyacht Draak (formerly Tranquility and Equanimity) following an extensive rebuild at its facilities in Zwijndrecht.
Originally delivered by Oceanco in 2014, Draak has been comprehensively transformed into a dedicated companion yacht for Leviathan, the 111-metre Oceanco superyacht delivered last year to American video game developer Gabe Newell, who is also the new owner of the shipyard.
The rebuild redefines Draak’s operational role, equipping her to support exploration-focused cruising and fleet operations. Key upgrades include the ability to carry a dedicated dive tender, increased accommodation for additional crew and guests, and major structural and systems modifications. The yacht will now undergo sea trials ahead of delivery later this year.
Significant exterior changes were undertaken, including an extension of the stern boarding platform by just over one metre to improve safety and functionality, while accommodating retractable fenders and swim stairs. Exterior works were led by Draak’s original in-house design team, working closely with the Leviathan project team to ensure design, engineering and operational consistency between the two yachts.
The rebuild was a collaborative effort between Oceanco, co-makers, owner’s representative YTMC, Azure Yacht Design and Naval Architecture, and the crews of both vessels.
“Strong collaboration between all parties was needed to re-engineer the yacht’s DNA,” said Dan Morgan of YTMC. “Integration of large-scale equipment optimised for operational efficiency and versatility will bring added robust capability to enhance the fleet’s programme.”
Internally, Draak has been reconfigured to support her new mission. The former beach club and spa have been converted into a fully equipped dive centre complete with a decompression chamber, while the main deck saloon has been transformed into a spacious crew mess featuring a dedicated “chef’s lab” for intimate dining experiences shared by crew and guests. New adaptable cabins have also been introduced to increase crew capacity when required. Interior works were carried out by German studio Vedder.
Further exterior modifications include the removal of the former helideck on the upper deck aft, creating additional clearance for a large tender deck on the main deck aft, fitted with heavy-duty C-davits. A 12.6-tonne jib crane has also been installed on the upper deck aft to facilitate tender and equipment deployment.
“The new layout required a complete overhaul of several key systems, including ventilation and electrical infrastructure,” explained Oceanco Life Cycle Support project manager Edwin Schneider. “On a refit of this scale, everything is interconnected, and with the extent of the changes, we effectively had to open up the entire yacht.”
Delivered in 2014 as the first yacht built to the Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) standard, Draak originally featured interiors by Winch Design inspired by Asian influences, incorporating materials such as wenge, gold leaf, bamboo and marble.
