Asset Divestment

Every appraisal begins with a face-to-face meeting. Regardless of where you are, we make the trip to meet you in person, see your vessels firsthand, and take the time to understand your operation and your objectives. Commercial vessel transactions are built on trust, and we believe trust is built in person, not over the phone.

From there, we'll have a look at your vessel, get a feel for its condition and fit-out, and talk through its history and how it's been used. That's enough for us to give you an honest market valuation and work with you on a realistic asking price — one that attracts serious buyers without leaving money on the table.

Pricing a commercial vessel correctly from the outset is critical. An unrealistic asking price doesn't just slow the sale — it signals to serious buyers that the vendor isn't informed, which erodes negotiating position when the right offer eventually comes.

Before your vessel is publicly advertised, we present it confidentially to buyers in our network whose operational requirements it suits. These are established commercial operators, fleet managers, and industry companies who are actively seeking vessels — not casual browsers. Pre-market placement frequently results in faster sales at stronger prices, while remaining commercially discreet.

We advise on practical, cost-effective steps to present your vessel in its best light and address any compliance or maintenance items likely to create friction during buyer due diligence. Drawing on our operational background as Mariners, we help you get ahead of the questions serious buyers will inevitably ask.

For vessels entering the open market, Swan Marine captures professional photography and drone footage before advertising across national and international commercial marine platforms, as well as through our own extended database. Our marketing is targeted specifically at other commercial operators, so we know what they're looking for.

Once we've found a serious buyer, we coordinate, facilitate, and attend all buyer inspections and sea trials. Our commercial qualifications allow us to engage directly and authoritatively with buyers' surveyors, engineers, and technical advisers — ensuring accurate information is communicated between all parties and protecting you from being drawn into unnecessary renegotiation based on misrepresented findings. We weed out the prop kickers and do the heavy lifting, so you don't have to.

We manage all price negotiation on your behalf, with a clear understanding of your position, the vessel's value, the buyer's position, and current market conditions. Our goal is to achieve the best outcome for you — not to secure a quick commission.

From accepted offer to settlement, Swan Marine manages the entire transaction. This includes secure fund management, coordination of legal and survey documentation, compliance verification, and handover logistics. We have an in-depth understanding of the administrative requirements around international Class Survey, AMSA Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV) Survey and vessels on the Australian Shipping Register. We deal with the buyer's legal team, settlement agents and accountants, handling all aspects of the transaction right through to settlement and post-sale. Our services don't stop at settlement. We remain available for any assistance you need.

If you own a commercial vessel and aren't actively looking to sell, but would seriously consider the right offer from the right buyer, we'd like to hear from you. We maintain active relationships with operators and companies across Australia who have specific requirements and the capacity to move quickly when the right asset is identified. In many cases, we already know who that buyer is before we pick up the phone.

There's no obligation in having that conversation. You set the terms, you decide whether an offer is worth pursuing, and you retain complete control throughout. What we offer is the connection between your asset and a buyer who may value it more than the open market ever would. This process can be entirely discreet, so your asset never goes to the open market.

Swan Marine is actively building its capability and professional relationships in the area of distressed vessel sales, including assets subject to receivership, administration, and court-ordered disposal under Admiralty jurisdiction.

Admiralty Marshal sales — where a vessel is arrested and sold by order of the Federal Court of Australia — require a broker who understands the commercial marine asset class, can manage inspections and tender processes efficiently, and can reach qualified buyers quickly. The same applies to receivers and administrators managing vessel assets as part of broader insolvency proceedings, where speed, accurate valuation, and a credible buyer network are critical to maximising recovery for creditors.

Swan Marine is developing the professional relationships and processes required to service this market properly, including connections with maritime lawyers, P&I correspondents, and insolvency practitioners who operate in this space.

If you are a legal professional, insolvency practitioner, or creditor managing a distressed marine asset and are looking for a commercially experienced broker to assist with the sale process, we welcome the conversation.