Battling Blackbeard
By Christina Bohnstengel
With pirate attacks off of the Somalian coast making the headlines more and more, anyone sailing the open seas may consider their own safety in a brand new way. Because of this, we are predicting that security services catering to the yachting community will be on the rise in the coming years. Scott Lidbetter, the head of the security firm Veritas recently told Reuters, “The pirates now are getting more prepared to go further east (of 60 degrees longitude), which brings vessels moving from the Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Maldives into target.”
Lidbetter’s own security team includes former UK Special Forces (Special Boat Service, anti-terrorist units) as well as Navy, Army, and police personnel. Veritas’ services include yacht escorts, training of captains and crew, and defense weapon instruction. Another well-known maritime security firm is Seal Superyachts, who supports ships in Indonesia, the Maldives, Seychelles, and Thailand. Their website boasts more than 10 years successfully securing megayachts, with no piracy reports. Ocean Marshalls is marketing to yacht owners for the first time, with their main background originating in servicing the shipping industry.
Interested in tracking the pirate attacks from around the world? Check with the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre
Email This Post
