Ocean Independence
Ocean Independence is a Swiss-based international yacht brokerage and luxury yachting services firm.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Ocean Independence is a privately held yacht brokerage and luxury yachting services company headquartered in Küsnacht, in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Its business is focused primarily on crewed motor and sailing yachts longer than 18 metres. Rather than operating as a yacht-owning fleet company, it works as an intermediary and adviser for yacht buyers, sellers, owners, charterers, shipyards and other participants in the large-yacht market. The company traces its origins to the mid-1980s, when Peter Hürzeler, his brother and friends built and operated some of the first commercially registered sailing yachts used for charter. The business was formally established in 1991 under the name Ocean Cruise. When the original fleet was later sold, Hürzeler continued the company and redirected its activities toward yacht brokerage and consultancy. The business initially operated from Zollikon near Zurich. Ocean Cruise began developing an international network during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It opened an office in Monaco in 1999 and another in Palma de Mallorca in 2003. In 2005, the company acquired Velonà Yachting, a Monaco brokerage house, and subsequently combined with Sea Independence, formerly known as Dahm International, a brokerage business based in Palma. These transactions formed the basis of the Ocean Independence identity and increased the workforce from 22 to 45 employees. Nicholas Dean joined the business as a managing partner during the same period. The company expanded beyond brokerage into operational services. In 2006 it formally introduced dedicated yacht-management services, supporting owners with the practical, administrative and commercial demands of operating large yachts. Its service scope has since included yacht sales and acquisitions, charter brokerage, charter-fleet management, ownership management, new-build supervision, refit oversight and related consultancy. Further acquisitions broadened its geographic coverage. The purchase of the London-based brokerage Cavendish White in 2008 strengthened the firm's presence in the United Kingdom and brought its workforce to approximately 70 people. In 2011, the acquisition of Primo Yacht in Antibes expanded its position in yacht charter and charter-fleet management. Ocean Independence established a US sales and charter office in Fort Lauderdale in 2015, relocated its global headquarters from Zollikon to Küsnacht, and introduced a revised visual identity. It also launched PURSUIT, a lifestyle magazine associated with the brand. In 2017, the acquisition of Hong Kong brokerage Seanergy extended its reach in the Asian market. Ocean Independence's commercial model covers both transaction-led and recurring services. Brokerage teams represent clients in the purchase and sale of yachts, while charter specialists arrange access to professionally crewed vessels. Management teams can coordinate the continuing operation of owner yachts, and the company's build and refit activities provide advisory and project oversight during construction, conversion or renovation. The firm has been involved in transactions involving large yachts built by shipyards such as Benetti, CRN, Royal Denship, Nuovi Cantieri Apuania, Oceanfast, Krupp Germany and Neorion. The company reports having completed more than 500 yacht sales since its establishment and having generated several billion euros in aggregate yacht-sales revenue. These figures are company claims rather than independently verified financial statements. Ocean Independence remains positioned as a specialist, international adviser for high-net-worth clients seeking integrated support across yacht ownership, sales, charter, management and construction.
History
Ocean Independence developed from a sailing-yacht charter venture established by Peter Hürzeler, his brother and a group of friends in the mid-1980s. The group built and operated commercially registered sailing yachts, an early activity that gave the business practical experience in charter operations and yacht management. In 1991, the enterprise was formally established as Ocean Cruise. During the mid-1990s, the original charter fleet was sold. Hürzeler retained the business and moved its emphasis toward yacht brokerage and consultancy from premises in Zollikon near Zurich. This transition changed the company's role from primarily operating charter vessels to advising clients and intermediating transactions in the larger-yacht market. International expansion began with the opening of a Monaco office in 1999, followed by a Palma de Mallorca office in 2003. In 2005, Ocean Cruise acquired Velonà Yachting, a Monaco-based brokerage house, and merged with Sea Independence, formerly known as Dahm International, a Palma brokerage business. The combination created the Ocean Independence brand and increased the workforce from 22 to 45 people. Nicholas Dean joined as a managing partner in the same year. In 2006, the company launched dedicated yacht-management services. This broadened the business from brokerage and consultancy into the ongoing administration and operation of privately owned yachts. The next major expansion came in 2008, when Ocean Independence acquired Cavendish White, a London brokerage house. The transaction increased the workforce to approximately 70 people and strengthened the company's access to the British market. The firm continued to broaden its charter capabilities in 2011 through the acquisition of Primo Yacht in Antibes, France. This added expertise in charter brokerage and charter-fleet management. In 2015, Ocean Independence opened a United States sales and charter office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That year it also moved its global headquarters from Zollikon to Küsnacht, adopted a revised brand identity and introduced PURSUIT, a lifestyle magazine designed to support the brand's editorial and client-facing presence. In 2017, the company acquired Seanergy, a brokerage company based in Hong Kong. The deal extended Ocean Independence's network into Asia and complemented its existing European and North American operations. The modern company concentrates on crewed motor and sailing yachts above 18 metres. It does not present itself as the owner of a proprietary yacht fleet; instead, it represents clients and coordinates services across the yacht life cycle. Its activities include sales and purchase representation, charter retail and management, yacht ownership management, construction oversight and refit supervision. Ocean Independence has participated in sales of numerous large yachts, including vessels associated with Benetti, CRN, Royal Denship, Nuovi Cantieri Apuania, Oceanfast, Krupp Germany and Neorion. The company states that it has sold more than 500 yachts since its founding and achieved cumulative yacht-sales revenue of approximately four billion euros. These are corporate claims cited in reference material and should not be treated as audited public-company disclosures. The business remains an international private specialist in luxury yacht brokerage and related services.
- 2024
Alfa sale
[1]Ocean Independence is identified as having brokered the sale of the 70-metre Benetti yacht Alfa.
- 2017
Seanergy is acquired
[1]The acquisition of Hong Kong-based Seanergy extends the company's brokerage network into Asia.
- 2015
US office, headquarters move and rebrand
[1]Ocean Independence opens a Fort Lauderdale office, relocates its global headquarters to Küsnacht, updates its brand identity and launches PURSUIT magazine.
- 2011
Primo Yacht is acquired
[1]The acquisition of Antibes-based Primo Yacht broadens Ocean Independence's charter and charter-fleet-management capabilities.
- 2008
Cavendish White is acquired
[1]The purchase of the London brokerage Cavendish White expands the company's United Kingdom operations.
- 2006
Dedicated yacht management launches
[1]Ocean Independence formally adds dedicated yacht-management services to its brokerage and consultancy activities.
- 2005
Brokerage acquisitions create the Ocean Independence identity
[1]The acquisition of Velonà Yachting and combination with Sea Independence form the foundation of the Ocean Independence brand.
- 2003
Palma office opens
[1]The company establishes an office in Palma de Mallorca, strengthening its Mediterranean presence.
- 1999
Monaco office opens
[1]Ocean Cruise expands its international brokerage presence by opening an office in Monaco.
- 1991
Ocean Cruise is established
[1]The business that later became Ocean Independence is formally established as Ocean Cruise after earlier sailing-yacht charter activities.
Products and positioning
A specialist international adviser and intermediary for large-yacht sales, charter, ownership management, construction and refit, serving affluent private clients and yacht-sector counterparties.
Brokerage service · 1991
Yacht sales and acquisition brokerage
Ocean Independence represents buyers and sellers in transactions involving large motor and sailing yachts. The service can include market advice, valuation support, buyer or seller representation, negotiation and coordination of the transaction process. The company operates as an intermediary rather than as the owner of a proprietary yacht fleet.
Luxury travel service
Yacht charter
The charter business arranges access to professionally crewed motor and sailing yachts for private clients. It includes retail charter brokerage and, following the expansion of the firm's charter operations, support for charter-fleet management. The offering is aimed at clients seeking customised large-yacht travel rather than standardised cruise products.
Asset and operational management · 2006
Yacht ownership management
Introduced as a dedicated service in 2006, yacht management supports owners with the continuing operational requirements of large yachts. The service sits between brokerage, administration and maritime operations and is intended to reduce the complexity of owning and running a crewed yacht.
Yacht consultancy
New-build and refit supervision
Ocean Independence advises clients during the construction, conversion and refit of yachts. Its role may involve coordinating owners, shipyards and other professional advisers while helping clients manage the project through major stages of the vessel's development or renovation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015PURSUIT
International
Ocean Independence launched PURSUIT, a lifestyle magazine associated with its revised brand identity and intended to communicate the broader experiences, destinations and interests connected with luxury yachting.
Outcome. The publication became part of the company's editorial and client-facing brand platform.
Brand decisions
2017
Acquisition of SeanergyM&ABackground
Ocean Independence continued its international expansion by adding a brokerage presence in Asia.
Action taken
The company acquired Hong Kong-based brokerage Seanergy.
Aftermath
The transaction extended the firm's geographic network into the Hong Kong and wider Asian market.
2015
US expansion and brand repositioningStrategyBackground
The company sought greater access to North American clients while refreshing its international brand platform.
Action taken
Ocean Independence opened a Fort Lauderdale sales and charter office, moved its headquarters to Küsnacht, revised its identity and launched PURSUIT.
Aftermath
The firm strengthened its North American coverage and presented a more integrated luxury-lifestyle positioning.
2011
Acquisition of Primo YachtM&ABackground
Ocean Independence aimed to deepen its role in yacht charter and charter-fleet management.
Action taken
The company acquired Primo Yacht, an Antibes-based yacht charter firm.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded the firm's charter-management capabilities.
2008
Acquisition of Cavendish WhiteM&ABackground
The company pursued further geographic expansion into the United Kingdom's yacht-brokerage market.
Action taken
Ocean Independence acquired Cavendish White, a London-based brokerage house.
Aftermath
The reported workforce reached approximately 70 people and the company gained a stronger UK presence.
2005
Combination with Velonà Yachting and Sea IndependenceM&ABackground
Ocean Cruise sought to expand its brokerage network and consolidate its Mediterranean presence through acquisitions and a combination with established brokerage businesses.
Action taken
The company acquired Velonà Yachting in Monaco and subsequently merged with Sea Independence, formerly Dahm International, in Palma.
Aftermath
The transactions created the Ocean Independence brand and increased the reported workforce from 22 to 45 employees.
Sources1 sources
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