Moran Yacht & Ship

Moran Yacht & Ship is an American luxury yacht brokerage, charter, and management company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The firm offers services across four primary areas: yacht sales and purchase, charter, new construction supervision, and yacht management. It operates offices in Fort Lauderdale, Monaco, and Newport, Rhode Island.

History

Moran Yacht & Ship was founded in 1988 by Robert Moran, who had worked as a captain for 15 years prior to entering the brokerage industry, including aboard the 38.7-metre Feadship Excellence. The company was established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a major hub of the global yachting industry, and has remained family-owned and independent since its founding.

Among the company's long-serving figures was Kevin P. Callahan, a veteran yacht broker who spent 31 years at Moran Yacht & Ship and was widely respected in the marine industry. Callahan passed away on January 31, 2024.

Over the following decades the company expanded beyond brokerage to include new construction supervision, charter representation, and full-service yacht management. International offices were subsequently opened in Monaco and Newport, Rhode Island.

Robert Moran's sons Sean Moran and Rory Moran later joined the firm. Sean Moran serves as managing director alongside Taylor Craig, a Yale University graduate and former Morgan Stanley financial sales professional who joined Moran Yacht & Ship and was later appointed managing director with a focus on new construction project management. Sean Moran also specialises in new construction, having begun his own career as a deckhand before rising to first officer. Rory Moran joined the company as a sales broker.

Notable brokers associated with the firm include Ross Tannock, a Scottish-born former professional footballer whose notable transactions include the 75.4-metre Lürssen Northern Star and the 58.5-metre Lürssen Capri. Sales and charter broker Chris Callahan, who also serves as the company's marketing director, has been recognised among the world's leading yacht brokers and has represented buyers and sellers in transactions including the 48.2-metre Feadship Tasia and the 2017 Sanlorenzo Betty Jane.

As of 2026, the company has overseen the delivery of more than 65 new construction projects, including 25 vessels built in partnership with Lürssen.

Yacht Sales and Purchase

Moran Yacht & Ship represents buyers and sellers of pre-owned and new luxury yachts. The firm has completed multiple in-house transactions — in which the same brokerage represented both buyer and seller — on vessels valued at several hundred million euros.

New Construction

The company's build team supervises custom superyacht construction on behalf of owners, from contract negotiation and technical specification writing through yard-side oversight and delivery. The firm has a long-standing relationship with German shipbuilder Lürssen, with Project Omega (contracted March 2025) representing its 25th new construction project with the yard.

Charter

Moran Yacht & Ship acts as central agency and charter broker for a fleet of luxury yachts operating in destinations including the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mediterranean.

Yacht Management

The company provides operational management services to yacht owners, covering vessel operations, planned maintenance, accounting and financial administration, crew management, and safety and regulatory compliance.

Lürssen KISMET (2007 and 2024)

Moran Yacht & Ship has been associated with two vessels named Kismet, both owned by the same client.

The original Kismet, a 68-metre Lürssen motor yacht delivered in 2007, was designed by Espen Oeino with an Art Deco interior by Reymond Langton Design. The yacht won the World Superyacht Awards in 2008 and was subsequently sold by Moran Yacht & Ship, later renamed Whisper.

A second vessel named Kismet, a 122-metre Lürssen (formerly Project Jag), was sold by Moran Yacht & Ship in 2019. The brokerage managed the full build process, including writing the technical specifications and negotiating interior costs. The yacht was delivered by Lürssen in late 2024 and was named Motor Yacht of the Year 2025. Interior design was again by Reymond Langton Design; exterior design was by Nuvolari Lenard.

Lürssen AHPO (2023)

In May 2023, Moran Yacht & Ship announced the in-house sale of AHPO, a 377-foot (115.1-metre) Lürssen superyacht. The vessel was built as Project Enzo to a Moran Yacht & Ship specification for a repeat client, with exterior and interior design by Nuvolari-Lenard. The asking price at the time of sale was reported at €330,000,000, and the transaction closed within approximately three months of listing. The yacht was subsequently renamed Lady Jorgia.

Lürssen MADSUMMER (2023)

Shortly after the AHPO transaction, Moran Yacht & Ship completed the in-house sale of MADSUMMER, a 311-foot (95-metre) Lürssen motor yacht accommodating up to 12 guests with a crew of 30.

Project Omega (contracted 2025)

In March 2025, Moran Yacht & Ship announced the sale of Project Omega, a 122.5-metre Lürssen superyacht under construction with delivery scheduled for 2029. Designed inside and out by RWD, the 5,200 GT vessel accommodates 20 guests across 10 cabins. The project represents the same owner's second build with Moran Yacht & Ship and the firm's 25th new construction project with Lürssen.

Lürssen NORD (2021)

Moran Yacht & Ship supervised the construction of NORD, a 142-metre Lürssen motor yacht delivered in 2021. At the time of her delivery, NORD was among the largest private motor yachts in the world.

Feadship Aquarius (2019–2020)

In September 2019, Moran Yacht & Ship was appointed worldwide central agent for the sale of Aquarius, a 301-foot (92-metre) Feadship motor yacht built in 2016 for American casino magnate Steve Wynn. The yacht was subsequently sold in 2020.

Lürssen ACE / Eye (2012)

Moran Yacht & Ship oversaw the complete construction of Eye (built as ACE, formerly project Rocky), an 87-metre Lürssen motor yacht delivered in July 2012. The brokerage sold the project, compiled the technical specifications, selected the designers, and managed day-to-day construction. Exterior and interior design were both by Andrew Winch Designs. Upon delivery the yacht entered the Top 100 Largest Yachts in the world.

Leadership

Moran Yacht & Ship was founded by Robert Moran and is currently directed by Sean Moran and Taylor Craig.

Offices

External links

• Official website