What 4 Oceans does

4-Oceans GmbH is a privately held Swiss nautical services company headquartered in Murten, Switzerland, founded in 1998 by Jacqueline Steiner. The company operates an integrated three-pillar offering: (1) independent yacht charter brokerage with access to over 20,000 partner yachts worldwide through online booking systems; (2) organized high-seas sailing trips (Hochseetörns), including training trips, vacation trips, introduction trips, and skipper-led charters; and (3) theoretical and practical Hochseeausweis (Swiss high-seas certification) preparation, delivered through evening courses, intensive 5-day courses, private tutoring, and combined theory-and-practice onboard courses priced at CHF 1,090–1,380 per person.

Since the 2018 merger with Segelschule Murtensee GmbH — owners Christa and Simi Züger joined the management — 4-Oceans has run a vertically integrated customer pipeline from beginner lake sailing instruction on Lake Murten through Hochseeausweis certification to first independent charter booking. The company is affiliated with the Swiss Yachting Association (SYA) for exam preparation, partners with Tide Ocean Material on the 'Road to 1,000,000 Bottles' sustainability initiative, and distributes through its website (with integrated yacht search and booking), a Murten office, classroom delivery across Bern/Zürich/Basel/Murten, and onboard trips to global destinations.

The revenue model combines transaction commissions on third-party yacht bookings, one-time course fees for Hochseeausweis preparation, charter trip pricing for skipper-led organized trips (e.g., EUR 4,200/week onboard training), and pass-through service fees for travel arrangements such as flights and hotels. The company employs a small team under a three-person Geschäftsleitung, has no external institutional investors, and operates as an independent Swiss GmbH with no public revenue disclosure.

Name

4 Oceans

Legal name

4-Oceans GmbH

Website

https://4-oceans.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

4-Oceans GmbH is a Swiss nautical services company founded in 1998 that operates an integrated yacht charter brokerage, organized high-seas sailing trips, and Swiss Hochseeausweis certification courses for individual recreational sailors and aspiring skippers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yacht Charter and Sailing Education

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG), Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Cruise Yacht Charters (Private Crewed) (THAEADAG)

Keywords

• Yacht charter agency
• Sailing education courses
• High seas certification
• Organized sailing trips
• Nautical training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Murten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Yacht Charter Agency Commission: 4-Oceans acts as an independent agency, booking yachts from partner charter companies worldwide on behalf of customers. The company earns commissions on these bookings, with payment processed securely through 4-Oceans GmbH in Murten, Switzerland.
2. High-Seas Certification Courses: The company generates revenue from teaching Hochseeausweis (Swiss high-seas certification) theory courses, including intensive courses, evening courses, Saturday courses, and private tutoring. Course fees range from CHF 1,090 to CHF 1,380 per person, plus examination fees of CHF 300.
3. Onboard Training Trips: Combined theory-and-practice sailing trips lasting 1 or 2 weeks, where theory is taught on board while sailing. Pricing includes course fees (CHF 1,090), materials (CHF 290-350), exam fee (CHF 300), plus per-person yacht charter fees (EUR 4,200/week or EUR 7,900/2 weeks).
4. Organized Sailing Trips with 4-Oceans Skipper: The company operates and sells its own organized high-seas sailing trips (Hochseetörns) led by 4-Oceans skippers. Customers pay a trip price which includes the skipper's services. The company also bundles travel arrangements (flights, hotels) as a paid service.
5. Service Fee for Travel Arrangement: When customers request additional services such as flights, hotels, or connecting holidays through 4-Oceans, the company charges a service and transport fee. These are invoiced separately and passed through to the respective transport providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

4-Oceans GmbH is an independent Swiss nautical travel agency offering worldwide yacht charter booking with access to over 20,000 partner yachts, organized high seas sailing trips led by company skippers, and theoretical and practical sailing education programs preparing students for the Swiss Hochseeausweis (high seas certificate). The company combines charter brokerage, skipper-led sailing holidays, and classroom- and onboard-based sailing certification courses delivered across multiple Swiss cities.

Product overview

4-Oceans is a Swiss-based nautical travel agency offering three integrated service lines: (1) Yachtcharter — an independent agency providing worldwide access to over 20,000 yachts through online booking systems; (2) Hochseetörns — high seas sailing trips including training trips (Ausbildungstörns), vacation trips (Ferientörns), introduction trips (Schnuppertörns), and private trips (Privattörns), plus skipper courses; and (3) Hochseeausweis courses — theoretical and practical training programs for obtaining the Swiss high seas sailing certification, including evening courses, intensive courses, private courses, and onboard courses. The company also offers continuing education courses such as Meteoseminar (meteorology), first aid courses, diesel engine courses, and radio/radar courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yachtcharter (Yacht Charter Agency) Independent yacht charter brokerage providing customers with worldwide access to over 20,000 yachts through online booking systems connected to partner charter companies, with transparent pricing and secure domestic payment processing in Switzerland.
• Hochseetörns (High Seas Sailing Trips) Organized high seas sailing trips including mileage trips (Meilentörns), vacation trips (Ferientörns), introductory trips (Schnuppertörns), motor yacht trips, and individual private trips (Privattörns) to global sailing destinations, often led by 4-Oceans skippers.
• Hochseeausweis Courses (High Seas Certification Program) Theoretical and practical training programs preparing students for the Swiss Hochseeausweis (high seas certificate) issued by the Schweizerisches Seeschifffahrtsamt and examined by the Swiss Yachting Association. Delivered as evening courses, Saturday courses, intensive week-long courses, and private tutoring across multiple Swiss cities.
• Onboard Courses (Onboardkurse) Combined theory-and-practice high seas certification courses delivered aboard chartered yachts, offered in 1-week and 2-week formats where students learn Hochseeausweis theory while sailing in real conditions.
• Privatkurse (Private Tutoring) One-on-one private tutoring option providing 12 hours of private instruction for Hochseeausweis exam preparation, available in Murten, Bern, Zürich, and Basel at CHF 1,380 per person.
• Intensivkurse (Intensive Courses) Compressed 5-day intensive Hochseeausweis theory courses offered in 3+2 day or 5x1 day formats in Bern and Zürich for students with prior knowledge, priced at CHF 1,090.
• Skipperkurse (Skipper Courses) Skipper training courses for aspiring captains, delivered as part of training trips and standalone course offerings to develop practical seamanship and skipper competency.
• Certified Skipper Program Combined theoretical training with practical sailing experience program leading to professional skipper certification, building toward the 1,000 nautical miles of practical experience required for advanced certifications.
• Meteoseminar (Meteorology Seminar) One-day (6-hour) weather seminar for sailors covering meteorological knowledge, offered in Bern and Zürich at CHF 190 per person with no prerequisites, aimed at Hochseeausweis graduates and sailors refreshing weather knowledge.
• Nothelferkurse (First Aid Courses) First aid training courses for sailors and seafarers offered as part of continuing education for high seas certification.
• Dieselmotorenkurse (Diesel Engine Courses) Diesel engine maintenance and troubleshooting courses for sailors as part of continuing education for high seas certification.
• Funk- & Radarkurse (Radio & Radar Courses) Radio and radar operation courses for sailors as part of continuing education for high seas certification.
• Travel Arrangement Service (Flights, Hotels, Connecting Holidays) Booking and arrangement of flights, hotels, and connecting holidays for charter and sailing trip customers, invoiced as a separate service and transport fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% CO2 savings in plastic production through Tide Ocean Material partnership versus virgin plastic

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tide Ocean MaterialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20234-Oceans partners with Tide Ocean Material for the 'Road to 1,000,000 Bottles' sustainability initiative. The partnership involves collecting and recycling ocean plastic bottles — Tide Ocean collects one million plastic bottles from beaches, which are then recycled into new materials. This partnership enables 4-Oceans to offer sustainability-conscious sailing trips and aligns with the company's environmental mission. The partnership saves up to 80% CO2 compared to virgin plastic production.
• Segelschule Murtensee GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In 2018, 4-Oceans GmbH and Segelschule Murtensee GmbH merged under one roof in Murten. Simi and Christa Züger (owners of Segelschule Murtensee) joined the management of 4-Oceans alongside Jacqueline Steiner (founder of 4-Oceans). This partnership created an integrated offering from beginner sailing to high-seas certification and charter, with both companies operating from the same physical location.
• Swiss Yachting Association (SYA)coreOthers4-Oceans is affiliated with the Swiss Yachting Association (SYA), which is the official examining body for the Swiss high-seas certificate (Hochseeausweis) recognized by the Schweizerisches Seeschifffahrtsamt (Swiss Maritime Navigation Office). 4-Oceans prepares students for the official SYA theory examination.
• Pantaenius Yacht Insurance (represented by Murette AG, Bern)minorGTM or Marketing Partner4-Oceans recommends Pantaenius Yacht Insurance (via Murette AG in Bern) for charter insurance products including travel cancellation insurance, skipper liability insurance, and deposit/voucher insurance. This is a marketing referral partnership where 4-Oceans directs customers to purchase recommended insurance products.
• ECC Yacht CharterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorECC Yacht Charter is one of many partner charter companies accessible through 4-Oceans' online booking system. The company has partnerships with numerous yacht charter firms worldwide, including Navigo Yacht Charter and ECC Yacht Charter, which are listed on the website's charter destinations and yacht search platform.
• Navigo Yacht CharterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNavigo Yacht Charter is one of many partner charter companies accessible through 4-Oceans' online booking system. The company has partnerships with numerous yacht charter firms worldwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Moorings: Established yacht charter brand with a global fleet across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Pacific. Comparable in destination coverage and skippered-charter service to 4-Oceans, but operates as a large incumbent with proprietary fleet inventory.
• Sunsail: Major yacht charter brand offering bareboat, flotilla, and skippered charters worldwide. Comparable to 4-Oceans on sailing charter and flotilla-style offerings, though as a much larger incumbent fleet operator.

Direct peers

• GlobeSailor: Online yacht charter broker offering access to thousands of charter yachts worldwide. Closely comparable to 4-Oceans' independent agency model, with similar commission-based economics across Mediterranean and global sailing destinations.
• Dream Yacht Charter: Global yacht charter company operating its own fleet with bareboat, skippered, and crewed charter offerings. Comparable to 4-Oceans in product offering but operates its own fleet rather than as an independent agency.
• SamBoat: Peer-to-peer and professional boat rental platform covering sailboats, motorboats, and yachts across Europe. Comparable to 4-Oceans as a yacht charter intermediary, though with broader vessel categories and a digital marketplace model.
• Navigare Yachting: Swedish-origin yacht charter operator with Mediterranean bases. Listed as one of 4-Oceans' partner charter companies, and directly comparable as a fleet-based charter provider competing for the same customer base.
• Sailogy: Online yacht charter marketplace enabling direct booking of sailing yachts and catamarans. Comparable to 4-Oceans' charter agency business but with a more digital-first, aggregator-style approach.
• Globesailing: Swiss sailing and motorboat school with nationwide course delivery. Directly comparable to Segelschule Murtensee (4-Oceans' co-located subsidiary) and referenced as a partner school on the 4-Oceans website.
• MedSailors: Organized flotilla and sailing holiday operator in the Mediterranean. Comparable to 4-Oceans' skipper-led Hochseetörns product on overlapping destinations, particularly Greece and Croatia.

Others

• Pantaenius: Yacht insurance specialist recommended by 4-Oceans to its charter customers. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but a key commercial partner within the same Swiss sailing customer journey.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/183867734996219
• Instagraminstagram.com/simi_zueger
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/4-oceans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 4 Oceans