Piracy and a FLIR Comparison

First, Piracy at Sea Reaching the Executive Decision, a nicew summation of the piracy problem - more aimed at the commercial world, but stillrelevant to all mariners.

Secondly, First Mate MS thermal camera, FLIR does it again!, Panbo does a comparison of the First Mate MS and the First Mate HM handheld FLIR. A nice piece of kit that I feel is needed for every yacht/cruiser. Read the comments section for the 'other than security' uses these devices offer.

GOST™ NT Evolution Foils Attempted Boat Theft In Florida

GOST™ NT Evolution Foils Attempted Boat Theft In Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA (USA) – A GOST™ (Global Ocean Security Technologies – formerly Paradox Marine) NT Evolution boat security, monitoring and tracking system stopped would-be boat thieves from making off with a 33’ Contender in greater Miami, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifFlorida early Sunday morning, July 3. NT Evolution combines the GOST Nav-Tracker and Marine Magellan systems to provide boat security, monitoring and tracking in a single unit.



The Contender was in its slip when thieves attempted to steal it. They were stopped when the NT Evolution system’s audio and visual alarms sensed the intrusion, activated the siren and strobe light and alerted all of its contacts by text and email within 30 seconds of the event via the Inmarsat two-way tracking system.

The owners’ previous boat was stolen from the same slip a year earlier, causing the family to miss out on the entire summer season. "Summers are a precious thing for me and my family, to lose all last season was devastating. I knew that I needed to defend my new boat this year and that is exactly what the NT Evolution did. It prevented another theft,” said the owner, who requested anonymity for this story.

NT Evolution is a hybrid of the GOST Nav-Tracker and core Marine Magellan technology, making it the most sophisticated, all inclusive Nav-Tracker yet.

GOST NT Evolution

NT Evolution uses a third generation tracking website which incorporates an advanced Google Earth interface and uses the Inmarsat network of satellites for ultra reliability. It is the ideal solution for boats with limited living/ bunking space who want to bury the unit and strictly rely on key fobs.

An IP rated enclosure protects the GOST wireless technology at the core of the system. This allows the NT Evolution to use the extensive range of marine-rated wireless sensors for security and monitoring in combination with the GOST Nav-Tracker satellite tracking product line. The system can accommodate up to 32 wireless sensors, a hardwired zone input, 16 key fob remotes and up to 8 wireless relays which can control AC or DC functions onboard the vessel. The wireless relays can be used to flash the lights or sound a siren on alarm and can be controlled from the key fob remotes. For customers who keep their boat docked behind their house it is possible to tie one of the wireless relays into the house security system to set that off when the boat is being tampered with.

The GOST NT Evolution Package includes the GOST NT Evolution control unit with built in Marine Magellan core technology, 2 key fob remote controls, the antenna, a 30 ft antenna cable, a 6 foot power cable and covert antenna mounting bracket.

For more information about GOST NT Evolution and other GOST marine security and tracking products, visit www.gostglobal.com or call 1+954.565.9898.

Global Ocean Security Technologies - 1200 NE 7th Avenue - Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 USA



If this were my boat, I'd protect it with GOST products.

Two from Dockwalk

Armed security teams/ escorts onboard as a piracy deterrent: Good or Bad idea? From the blogs section, NR's Blog.
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My opinion - not really an option for cruisers/recreational boaters. For the Commercial Shipping industries? Definitely.

Locked Up Abroad - one of the high points we instruct Captains/Owners in is the need to know the laws of the countries you are going to visit, the penalties if you choose to dis-obey the laws. Not an easy set of choices at times, but as always, the better prepared you are before the event happens, the better decisions you will make.



Just a random image I came across surfing the net. Poetic justice and all....

Noonsite: Caribbean, Southern Windward Islands

From Noonsite:
Caribbean, Southern Windward Islands - Burglaries during Dinner Hour

Extra Caution/Awareness Suggested
Over the last 2 months, several reports have been received from yachts in the Southern Windwards who have been burgled whilst ashore for dinner.

The Caribbean Safety & Security Net reports that there has been speculation that, in certain anchorages, someone watches from shore to see which boats are vacated during the dinner hour and those boats are then targeted.

This is not a new phenomenon but four in one month is a record (as reported to the Caribbean Safety & Security Net in May). Yachts visiting those anchorages where this seems to be a frequent occurrence should consider leaving someone on board or leaving lights and/or a radio/CD player running, or anchoring farther from shore. It goes without saying that conversations about going out to dinner (or leaving the boat for any reason) should not take place on the VHF radio.

Anchorages include:

Bequia: Princes Margaret Beach
Mayreau: Salt-Whistle Bay
St Vincent: Wallilabou Bay
St Vincent: Blue Lagoon
St Vincent: Young Island

Note: An important aspect of your overall security measures is contained in the last sentence of the main body - what former-military types would call 'OpSec' or Operational Security. Basically, not broadcasting to the world your intentions.

Colour Codes of Awareness

From the folks at Low Tech Combat



'The Colour Codes of Awareness can be used as a model or system for conceptualishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifing just how we should actually apply awareness. Many people espouse that we should always maintain awareness of our surroundings and be on the lookout for warning signs and indicators that warn of a person about to possibly attack. But it can still be unclear as to how we should go about being ‘aware’.'

'All you need to do is start off at yellow and avoid white. Its that simple.

Yellow then orange then red. Hopefully that is all. That is how awareness works and how awareness equals avoidance.'

It is ironic, the more aware we are, the less likely we are to use the skills we have developed over the years. Ironic, but in a good way.

Train hard, train smart, but do train.

Iridium inReach – Text Messaging From Sea!

Catching up on some posting. Thanks to all who check in here, drop me a line and let me know what you think at yachtsecurity@privacyharbor.com.

Here are two from gCaptain - one on Iridium inReach and one on Epirbs



As readers here know, we stress situational awareness and safety - as well as the more 'traditional' aspects of security - all need to be tied into one package to be effective.

How to deal with Flash Mobs

Some great words of advice in this article from The Modern Survivalist -

'The two most common rules, the ones that people that get hurt or killed by them fail to remember are 1) Don’t get involved with them! 2) Get away from them as fast as possible.'

When taking the shoreside excursions, security needs to be in the back of the mind - always.

Sometimes even a Master of Kung Fu needs to know how to beat a tactical retreat.