The founder of Valve, Gabe Newell, has invested €200 million in a project to build a unique research vessel that will be used to explore the depths of the ocean. The new ship, dubbed the RV6000, is being developed by Vard, a shipbuilding company commissioned by Inkfish, a marine research organization acquired by Newell in 2022.
The vessel, which is about 100 meters long, will become the flagship of the Inkfish fleet, which already includes the research ships Hydra and Dagon. The RV6000 will be equipped with state-of-the-art scientific systems, including sensors and remote-controlled devices capable of operating at depths of up to 6 thousand meters. The ship will be equipped with a helipad, which expands its functionality for expeditions and logistics.
Newell's investment in ocean research is not limited to the construction of a new vessel. In August of this year, it became known about its acquisition of the Dutch shipyard Oceanco, specializing in the construction of superyachts, which confirms the entrepreneur's long-term strategy in the field of shipbuilding and marine technology.
According to analysts, the RV6000 project will be an important step in the development of a private initiative in oceanology. Such research is of strategic importance-from the search for new sources of minerals to the study of global climate processes.
Gabe Newell's net worth is now estimated at $ 9.5 billion, and his decision to invest heavily in science underscores the growing role of private investment in the development of global research programs.
