How Industry Titans Bring New Perspectives to Family-Owned Shipyards

For decades, the superyacht world has largely been the domain of family-owned shipyards rooted in tradition and generational stewardship. Recently, a new class of owners has emerged: Gabe Newell, the tech-industry titan who just picked up Oceanco; Laurens Last, the industrialist who moved swiftly to acquire Heesen; and Richard Hadida, the entrepreneur who runs Oyster Yachts. Each of them first built a yacht with the brand they loved, then bought the brand itself.

The goal was…