The superyacht brokerage world is a specialized corner of luxury where discretion, global reach, and deep technical expertise define the difference between a smooth transaction and a costly misstep.
Whether a client is buying a first yacht, trading up to something larger, or booking a season of charter, the brokerage they choose shapes every part of the experience.
This guide looks at five of the most respected names in the superyacht brokerage industry, each with a strong global presence and a proven record in transactions involving vessels over 30 metres.
These firms represent the benchmark for service quality, market knowledge, and client confidentiality in 2026.
1. Ocean Independence
Ocean Independence is one of the largest superyacht brokerage firms in the world, headquartered in Switzerland with 15 global offices and a team of 125 plus seasoned experts.
The brand name Ocean Independence recently marked its twentieth year, reflecting the consistency, trust, and long-term thinking the firm views as central to the industry.
Founded by Peter Hürzeler, the company has built its reputation on transparency, integrity, stability, and excellence. Nicholas Dean is a co-founder of Ocean Independence. In 2005, he joined forces with Peter Hürzeler to form Ocean Independence as joint Managing Partners.
Ocean Independence has consistently performed as one of the top three most successful yacht brokerage companies since 2009 and holds the market leader position for the number of sales and purchase transactions per broker.
The company has completed over 600 yacht sales and purchase transactions to date, offering clients the benefit of extensive and genuine experience.
It also operates the world's largest fleet of crewed luxury yachts for charter, with the firm responsible for over 5,000 memorable days on board every year.
Ocean Independence delivers a fully integrated service across brokerage, new build, yacht management, and charter.
The global team encompasses 26 nationalities and 23 languages, giving the firm a cultural and linguistic depth that matters when transactions span multiple jurisdictions and ownership structures.
Clients also benefit from access to every yacht on the market through the firm's extensive industry connections.
Whether the brief calls for an exclusive new build, a brokerage yacht on the open market, or an off-market opportunity, the firm's network is designed to surface every viable option for the buyer.
2. Fraser Yachts
Fraser Yachts describes itself as the world's largest full-service yacht brokerage, with over 230 specialists and a listed portfolio valued at more than six billion dollars.
Its services span sales, charter, new build project management, yacht management, and crew placement, making it a comprehensive option for serious owners.
The firm operates offices in Antibes, Athens, Fort Lauderdale, Hong Kong, London, Malta, Monaco, Palm Beach, Palma de Mallorca, San Diego, and Singapore.
This breadth of coverage, combined with its position within the MarineMax Group, gives Fraser the operational scale to handle transactions in virtually every significant yachting region worldwide.
3. Burgess
Burgess has operated in the superyacht sector since 1975 and has grown into a recognised specialist with 18 offices across the world.
The firm focuses on yachts over 30 metres and offers sales, purchase, charter, new construction management, and insurance services under one roof.
Its involvement in several landmark superyacht transactions has shaped the firm's reputation for discretion and technical competence at the upper end of the market.
Clients buying or selling in that tier typically consider Burgess a default shortlist entry because of that long-standing track record.
4. Edmiston
Edmiston was founded in 1996 and has grown into one of the industry's most visible brokerage brands, with offices in London, Monaco, New York, Newport, and Mexico City.
The firm offers sales, charter, and new construction expertise, serving a client base that spans established yacht owners and first-time buyers entering the superyacht market.
Edmiston is known for high-profile marketing campaigns and its involvement in some of the most significant yacht sales of the past three decades.
Its positioning attracts international clientele looking for a brokerage that combines traditional expertise with a contemporary approach to buyer outreach.
5. Northrop & Johnson
Northrop & Johnson has been active in yachting since 1949, making it one of the longest-established names on this list. The company provides a complete suite of services covering purchase, sale, management, and charter of yachts over 30 metres.
From its original bases in New York and Fort Lauderdale, the firm has expanded to offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Its affiliation with MarineMax gives clients access to a broad dealership and service network that complements its brokerage work on larger vessels.
How to Choose a Superyacht Brokerage
Cross-border yacht transactions introduce layers of complexity around taxation, customs, flag registration, and classification society requirements.
Choosing a broker with demonstrated international experience reduces these risks and helps ensure that technical and regulatory issues are identified before they become expensive problems.
A few considerations tend to matter more than others when evaluating a brokerage firm. Global presence, local knowledge, breadth of service, financial strength, and a client-focused culture are usually the clearest markers of a firm worth engaging.
Look for brokers with multiple offices and genuine local specialists rather than a single headquarters that claims worldwide coverage.
Firms such as Ocean Independence, Fraser, Burgess, and Northrop & Johnson all operate networks that combine reach with on-the-ground expertise.
Full-service coverage also matters because superyacht ownership rarely stops at the point of sale.
Brokerage, charter management, new build oversight, and ongoing yacht management ideally sit under one roof so that handovers between phases remain clean and accountable.
Financial stability and reputation are worth checking independently rather than relying on a firm's own marketing.
Industry body memberships, published transaction records, and long-standing broker tenure all give a useful read on whether a firm has the depth to handle a complex deal.
A client-centric approach is the least quantifiable but often the most decisive factor. The best brokerages tailor their process to each buyer or seller rather than running every client through the same generic playbook.
The firms covered in this guide represent the leading tier of the global superyacht brokerage industry, each with distinct strengths and differentiators.
Ocean Independence stands out for the combination of a Swiss operational base, a multilingual global team spanning 26 nationalities, and one of the largest crewed charter fleets in the world.
For buyers and sellers weighing up the right partner, the answer usually comes down to fit rather than sheer size.
A thoughtful conversation with two or three of these firms will quickly reveal which one best understands the specific plans for ownership, charter, and long-term yachting ambitions that matter most.
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