Killian Yacht & Ship: A History of Yachting Success

Joe Killian began his maritime career in 1980. He’s a former licensed ships master and operated a variety of vessels ranging from yachts and ferries, to tugs piloting large commercial ships and super tankers as a docking master.

With more than 15 years at sea and after working as a marine surveyor, he committed full time in 1995 to luxury yacht and ship brokerage and became the internationally recognized broker, consultant and expert in the maritime industry he is today.

Coming from a maritime family with a history, Joe’s 6th great grandfather, Elijah Hollingsworth partnered with Samuel Harlan to form the now historic shipyard, Harlan and Hollingsworth on the banks of the Christina River in Wilmington Delaware. Elijah Hollingsworth designed and built the first iron ships in the history of the US Navy for the US Civil war as well as several America’s Cup winning yachts, railroad tycoon Henry Flagler’s famous sailing yacht “Alicia” and many other notable steamships for American industrialists Charles Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt and others.

And with offices and agents in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai, built ships for customers all over the world. Harlan and Hollingsworth built more than 800 ships in all. The shipyard was sold to Bethlehem Steel in 1904 and continued building ships on the tributary of the Delaware River until 1940.

So, the yacht and ship business are in Joe Killian’s DNA.

Rose (Dodson) Killian grew up in yachting. Her father was a licensed captain and ran his own successful offshore charter fishing operation out of Cape May New Jersey. Boating and the water has always been a big part of her life.

Rose has extensive professional experience in yachting having worked as an administrator with the oldest yachting company in the world, Camper & Nicholson’s prior to the establishment of Killian Yacht & Ship as a standalone brokerage where she manages the business and the office.

Rose is also a successful Realtor with over 20 years of experience specializing in luxury and waterfront properties in association with Florida Capital Realty.