Recent News:
Superyacht Security
With the average superyacht worth £1million per square metre, it’s easy to understand why they are tempting prey for pirates, and that’s before counting the valuables - cash, jewellery, furniture and artworks - high risk losses and easy targets. However, perhaps the most alarming threat is that of kidnapping; pirates are increasingly targeting family members of yacht owners for ransom.
Increasing media coverage around piracy and growing fears that yachts are easy targets have led to many superyacht owners equipping their vessels with trained security personnel and military-style technologies at virtually any monetary cost to deter and defend against pirate attacks and keep everyone onboard safe from kidnap threats. Stories are emerging of the use of hidden chambers, escape pods and tracking devices too.
The Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and even the Seychelles are known to be high-risk areas; but with the recent attack on the 55 metre Tiara off Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, piracy is no longer just the concern of those choosing more remote cruising grounds. Security on superyachts has become an essential consideration wherever they plan to travel in the world.
When it comes to personal protection, responsibility for crew and passengers ultimately rests with the owner. Having trained personnel on hand in readiness for a worst case scenario is often seen as the only way a yacht can guarantee personal safety. Yet, hiring a private security team isn’t quite so straightforward at sea; there are many factors to consider such as the vessel set-up and the proposed transit plan, before a security company is able to tailor-make a security plan for their client.
However emerging technologies can be deployed and offer significant assistance. Night vision equipment, thermal imaging technology, door entry access controls and CCTV are all excellent options to prevent pirate attacks. What’s more, these technologies, which used to be the domain of the military and advanced cargo companies, are now available to superyacht owners.
ProForm Marines is one company that offers military-grade defence and surveillance systems for yachts, including a product with a long-range acoustic device so deafeningly loud that it forces attackers to retreat when directed at them. It is an option that can be added to the excellent SeaOwl tracking system, which combines radar and infrared/thermal imagery cameras to detect incoming threats as far as 5 kilometres away, even at night or during foggy weather conditions.
Our own product has potential for use on superyachts too. At the heart of its technology is a powerful capability to capture 360 degree panoramic video imagery, designed for use by the emergency services, military, safety and security professionals. The Observant WATCH is a 360 degree surveillance camera designed specifically to cope with the arduous challenges of the maritime environment. With a stainless steel housing and a marine finish, the camera is able to withstand salt sea spray for extended periods without maintenance. A low power system, the camera can be charged and run using standard solar panels. A fully IP camera, WATCH aids the development if situation awareness by capturing the 360o horizon. This panorama can then be conveyed shore to ship (or buoy) for remote management and the use of video analytics automates alarming and reporting on specified activities and fields of interest.
Whether moored at anchor, alongside or underway, the WATCH 360o camera will capture everything in all directions around a yacht. This data capture can be used live in conjunction with video analytics to support proactive security initiatives or as a vital archive capable of recreating the context of an incident.
Whilst superyachts have always been awash with the latest technology and gadgets and there’s always been a market for the latest in navigation and audio visual tools, every yacht owner now understands they have to take all due precautions and invest in intelligence and security technologies too.
Increasing media coverage around piracy and growing fears that yachts are easy targets have led to many superyacht owners equipping their vessels with trained security personnel and military-style technologies at virtually any monetary cost to deter and defend against pirate attacks and keep everyone onboard safe from kidnap threats. Stories are emerging of the use of hidden chambers, escape pods and tracking devices too.
The Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and even the Seychelles are known to be high-risk areas; but with the recent attack on the 55 metre Tiara off Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, piracy is no longer just the concern of those choosing more remote cruising grounds. Security on superyachts has become an essential consideration wherever they plan to travel in the world.
When it comes to personal protection, responsibility for crew and passengers ultimately rests with the owner. Having trained personnel on hand in readiness for a worst case scenario is often seen as the only way a yacht can guarantee personal safety. Yet, hiring a private security team isn’t quite so straightforward at sea; there are many factors to consider such as the vessel set-up and the proposed transit plan, before a security company is able to tailor-make a security plan for their client.
However emerging technologies can be deployed and offer significant assistance. Night vision equipment, thermal imaging technology, door entry access controls and CCTV are all excellent options to prevent pirate attacks. What’s more, these technologies, which used to be the domain of the military and advanced cargo companies, are now available to superyacht owners.
ProForm Marines is one company that offers military-grade defence and surveillance systems for yachts, including a product with a long-range acoustic device so deafeningly loud that it forces attackers to retreat when directed at them. It is an option that can be added to the excellent SeaOwl tracking system, which combines radar and infrared/thermal imagery cameras to detect incoming threats as far as 5 kilometres away, even at night or during foggy weather conditions.
Our own product has potential for use on superyachts too. At the heart of its technology is a powerful capability to capture 360 degree panoramic video imagery, designed for use by the emergency services, military, safety and security professionals. The Observant WATCH is a 360 degree surveillance camera designed specifically to cope with the arduous challenges of the maritime environment. With a stainless steel housing and a marine finish, the camera is able to withstand salt sea spray for extended periods without maintenance. A low power system, the camera can be charged and run using standard solar panels. A fully IP camera, WATCH aids the development if situation awareness by capturing the 360o horizon. This panorama can then be conveyed shore to ship (or buoy) for remote management and the use of video analytics automates alarming and reporting on specified activities and fields of interest.
Whether moored at anchor, alongside or underway, the WATCH 360o camera will capture everything in all directions around a yacht. This data capture can be used live in conjunction with video analytics to support proactive security initiatives or as a vital archive capable of recreating the context of an incident.
Whilst superyachts have always been awash with the latest technology and gadgets and there’s always been a market for the latest in navigation and audio visual tools, every yacht owner now understands they have to take all due precautions and invest in intelligence and security technologies too.
