Superyachts floating with such visible grandness in the middle of the sea naturally exposes the vessel and its passengers to various possible risks.

Much like how they are depicted in the movies, pirates freely roam about the seas targeting superyachts in pursuit of their passengers’ valuables. Furthermore, high-profile individuals like celebrities, royals, politicians, or the super-wealthy may risk having their privacy disturbed by paparazzi. 

Over the Easter weekend in 2023, renowned high-end yacht maker German Superyacht-Maker Lürssen fell victim to a ransomware attack. The attack effectively paralyzed most of the company’s operations, with its Lürssen-Kröger shipyard in Schleswig-Holstein remaining as one of the few operational elements of the business.

This event serves as a stark reminder that these luxurious vessels are not immune to security threats. Not only are they susceptible to real-world pirates and disturbances, but they are also vulnerable to the virtual kind.

Threat detection on superyachts

Protecting superyachts from security threats is critical, given the stature of their owners and the remote areas they often sail through. Criminals may target these vessels for theft, kidnapping, and even sabotage. 

While superyachts tend to employ a full set of well-trained crews and guards, maximising and ensuring the vessel’s safety is still paramount. The first step includes constantly being on guard and prioritising early detection of any possible threat.

Early-stage inbound Threat Detection (ESITD) is instrumental in spotting threats from a distance. When a threat is spotted early, it allows for swift responses. Key components of ESITD systems include infrared beams, thermal CCTV cameras, and high-definition surveillance cameras.

Advanced CCTV surveillance cameras serve multiple security objectives with an array of sophisticated features. These include thermal surveillance cameras, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, and ultra-HD long-range security cameras. 

Additionally, drones for visual surveillance offer an extra layer of visual threat detection and verification. Drones are great at quickly identifying threats, providing a bird’s-eye view, and tracking suspicious vessels.

Lastly, deck sensors may also add an extra layer of enhancing security. These sensors can detect subtle changes in pressure on deck, triggering security alerts for both onboard and onshore security teams. In response, security personnel can swiftly lock down the yacht’s external doors and internal areas. Deck sensors are also vital if criminals breach initial security measures.

On-deck superyacht security system

When criminals or unauthorised individuals board the ship, the vessel needs to deploy a lockdown system. These systems protect the vessel and the owner, guests, crew, and valuable assets. 

With the help of previous threat detection tools, the crew on board can swiftly react to possible security breaches. Lockdown systems also help reduce the risk of hostage situations, further ensuring the safety of everyone on board.

Furthermore, the presence of armed security guards provide a high level of physical security. As great and cutting-edge as the security tools are, human surveillance is still needed to protect the ship when any breaches occur.

While physically securing a superyacht is vital, employing a skilled professional to develop and maintain a robust cybersecurity system is equally essential to mitigate hacking attempts and data breaches.

Sources:

https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/superyacht-maker-lurssen-targeted-ransomware-attacks/ 

https://safeguardsystems.co.uk/security-for-superyachts/how-protect-superyachts-against-critical-security-threats/#h-the-different-types-of-security-systems-for-superyachts