How yacht owners protect themselves from pirates – Robb Report

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In the yachting world, self-defense has gone on the offensive. 533 feet from Roman Abramovich Eclipse is rumored to have a missile defense system, while the 165ft thunder could potentially launch its own missiles, thanks to Australian manufacturer Oceanfast’s military pedigree. “Its multi-fin stabilization system was designed to keep the deck level for firing projectiles – even in heavy seas the boat won’t roll,” says former captain Max Burgazli. “Another advantage is that no one spills their drinks.”

Other gigayachts would have incorporated safes, and current demand for submersibles includes those who view them as potential escape pods. For yachtsmen, such high-stress considerations may seem counter-intuitive, but yacht owners are increasingly adding safety to lists of must-haves on board, even on small yachts.

If missiles are too extreme, maybe bulletproof is the way to go. Bering Yachts is now working with luxury vehicle gunsmith Trasco Bremen GmbH to strengthen its 80-180ft expedition yachts. Arming your ship “doesn’t mean you’re going to Somalia,” says Bering CEO Alexei Mikhailov. “Random crime can happen anywhere.”

Bering and Trasco concentrate on the wheelhouse and the engine room, two vulnerable points during an attack. “Instead of a panic room, where people wait for help, it makes more sense to protect areas where owners and crew are still in control of the yacht,” Trasco CEO Sergej Lizun said. “They lock themselves in, ask for help and head for the shore.”

Crewing a yacht can cost between $400,000 and $600,000, depending on the size and details of the yacht. Protected areas include the roof, door, and upgraded glass rated VPAM Level 6 bulletproof, capable of withstanding repeated rounds from an AK-47. Reinforcements can add up to 10,000 pounds to the weight of the boat, so it makes more sense on an exploration yacht than on a planing vessel. And the structure is not just a steel box; the armored frame should be grenade proof while allowing entry points to accommodate cables, vents and special locks, while doors and walls overlap to protect against angled fire.

thunder super yacht.

Courtesy IYC

Beyond shielded rooms, Mikhailov prescribes a combination of hacking deterrents such as long-range acoustic devices that emit high-pitched noises to ward off invaders, a green-light “dazzling” gun to disorient attackers, and motion detectors on decks. “Incident rehearsals” that simulate the siege of a yacht by pirates (or paparazzi) are popular for crew training, especially after something untoward has happened, says Horst Ruetten,

CEO of IBS International Operative Services, a German company specializing in superyacht security. The company has seen service requests increase 5-10% every year since 2016. Need more? IBS can also provide sonar for underwater surveillance, anti-drone systems for aerial protection, armed ex-servicemen for dubious trips or advice on upcoming constructions. Ruetten says customer requests for these defensive systems are rare compared to, for example, intruder detection systems. “We do a lot more consulting during the construction and redevelopment processes for risk analysis and protection concepts,” he says.

One final piece of advice, from Bering’s Mikhailov: if all else fails, reverse the yacht’s stabilizers to try and literally shake the attackers out of the boat. “It clears bridges quickly,” he says. And it’s much cheaper than an anti-missile system.

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