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Yacht & Superyacht Security Services

Specialist security for superyachts and mega yachts operating in African waters. From Cape Town Marina to the Seychelles, our embarked security teams protect private vessels against piracy, theft, and maritime threats.

Protect Your Vessel

Sentinel Africa Group operates a dedicated yacht security division entirely separate from our commercial maritime (PMSC) operations. While our maritime security division protects commercial shipping and offshore assets, our yacht security programme is purpose-built for the unique requirements of superyacht and mega yacht protection. Private vessels demand a fundamentally different approach to security, one that balances genuine threat mitigation with the discretion, professionalism, and service standards expected aboard luxury vessels operated by UHNW owners, charter guests, and yacht management companies.

Our Embarked Security Teams (EST) are trained to the highest maritime security standards, including STCW certification and full compliance with ISO 28007. Every operator holds valid maritime weapons handling qualifications and sea survival certifications. However, what sets our yacht security teams apart is their understanding of life aboard a private vessel. Our operators integrate seamlessly with existing crew, maintain the highest standards of personal presentation, and conduct security operations with minimal disruption to guests. We work closely with captains, chief officers, and yacht management companies to ensure security protocols complement rather than conflict with vessel operations.

Our coverage extends across the most critical maritime zones in and around Africa: Cape Town and the South African coast, the Indian Ocean passage routes, the Mozambique Channel, the East African coastline from Mozambique to Somalia, the Seychelles and Madagascar archipelagos, and the Red Sea transit corridor. For each voyage, our intelligence division produces a comprehensive voyage risk assessment powered by our proprietary MariTRAC™ platform, providing route-specific threat analysis covering piracy activity, port security conditions, weather patterns, and geopolitical factors that may affect the passage.

Beyond embarked protection, Sentinel offers a full spectrum of yacht security services including crew security training programmes, new build security consultancy for yachts under construction, port and anchorage protection, and maritime cyber security for bridge systems and onboard networks. Whether you are transiting the Mozambique Channel, anchoring off Zanzibar, or planning a new build with integrated security systems, our team delivers the specialist maritime expertise and intelligence-driven approach that discerning yacht owners and operators require.

Key Facts
Years Active 12+
Voyages Protected 340+
Vessel Types All
Regions 8
EST Certification ISO 28007
Response 24 hrs

Yacht Security Capabilities

Embarked Security Teams

Armed and unarmed maritime security operators for passage protection, trained to STCW and maritime weapons handling standards with yacht-specific operational protocols.

Voyage Risk Assessment

Comprehensive route analysis from the MariTRAC™ platform covering piracy zones, port risks, weather patterns, and geopolitical threat factors for every passage.

New Build Security Consultancy

Security system design for yachts under construction: CCTV placement, safe rooms, access control, bridge hardening, and communication system redundancy.

Port & Anchorage Security

Dockside protection, shore-side security, tender operations, and secure provisioning at ports of call across African and Indian Ocean destinations.

Crew Security Training

Maritime security awareness, anti-piracy drills, counter-boarding techniques, and emergency protocols tailored specifically for yacht crew operations.

Maritime Cyber Security

Protection of bridge systems, satellite communications, AIS spoofing detection, and onboard network security to defend against digital maritime threats.

Why Choose Sentinel for Yacht Security

Yacht-Specific Expertise

Not generic maritime security. Our teams understand luxury vessel operations, guest privacy requirements, and crew dynamics aboard private yachts.

MariTRAC™ Intelligence

Real-time vessel tracking and maritime threat intelligence purpose-built for your route, providing continuous situational awareness throughout every passage.

African Waters Specialists

Unmatched knowledge of Cape to Suez waters: Mozambique Channel, Gulf of Guinea, Somali Basin, Red Sea, and every critical anchorage in between.

Discreet Operations

Security that does not compromise the yacht experience. Our operators are invisible until needed, maintaining the atmosphere your guests expect.

MariTRAC™ Intelligence Integration

Every yacht security engagement is powered by Sentinel's proprietary MariTRAC™ platform, a purpose-built maritime intelligence system that provides real-time threat monitoring, AIS vessel tracking, and comprehensive route analysis for private vessel operations across African and Indian Ocean waters.

MariTRAC™ aggregates data from multiple maritime intelligence sources including naval patrol reports, piracy incident databases, port authority advisories, and our own field intelligence network. Before departure, the platform generates a detailed voyage risk assessment covering every waypoint, anchorage, and port of call. During passage, our maritime analysts monitor your vessel's route in real-time, providing immediate alerts via encrypted satellite communications if threat conditions change along your planned track.

AIS Vessel Tracking

Real-time tracking of vessel movements and identification of suspicious maritime activity along your route.

Piracy Zone Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of piracy hotspots with incident reporting and risk level updates for passage planning.

Port Security Ratings

Detailed security assessments for marinas, anchorages, and ports of call across African and Indian Ocean destinations.

Weather Integration

Maritime weather data integrated with security planning to identify periods of increased vulnerability during passage.

Case Study

Superyacht | Indian Ocean Passage
78m Superyacht — Cape Town to Seychelles — 14-Day Passage Security

Sentinel deployed a 4-person Embarked Security Team aboard a 78m superyacht for a 14-day passage from Cape Town to Victoria, Seychelles. The route transited the Mozambique Channel and passed through moderate-risk zones off northern Madagascar. Our team conducted pre-departure security surveys, installed temporary tactical communications, and maintained 24/7 watch rotations with MariTRAC™ monitoring throughout. The passage was completed on schedule with zero security incidents and full guest satisfaction.

14
Days
2,800
Nautical Miles
4
EST Operators
0
Incidents

Frequently Asked Questions

From 24m sailing yachts to 100m+ superyachts. Our Embarked Security Teams scale to vessel size and route risk, ensuring proportionate and effective protection for any private vessel operating in African waters. We work with motor yachts, sailing yachts, and expedition vessels across all size categories.
When legal and appropriate. We carry weapons in international waters per flag state regulations and disembark them at ports where not permitted. All operators hold maritime weapons certifications. Our armoury management procedures comply with flag state requirements and international maritime law, with full documentation and chain-of-custody protocols for every transit.
Gulf of Guinea, Mozambique Channel, Gulf of Aden/Red Sea, and certain anchorages in East Africa remain the highest-risk areas for private vessels. MariTRAC™ provides route-specific risk scoring updated in real-time, allowing us to advise on passage timing, routing adjustments, and the appropriate level of security for each leg of your voyage. Contact our maritime operations team for a current threat briefing on your planned route.
Yes. Our new build consultancy works with shipyards and naval architects to integrate security systems from the design phase: CCTV placement and coverage mapping, safe rooms with independent communications, bridge hardening, access control systems, and communication redundancy. Designing security into the build is significantly more effective and aesthetically superior to retrofitting systems after delivery.
Yes. We run maritime security awareness programmes for yacht crew covering anti-piracy procedures, counter-boarding techniques, emergency protocols, communications security, and hostile vessel identification. Training can be delivered dockside, during passage, or at our Cape Town training facility. Programmes are tailored to vessel type, crew experience, and the operational areas you frequent.

Ready to Protect Your Vessel?

Speak with our maritime security team to plan embarked protection, voyage risk assessment, or crew training for your next passage.

Protect Your Vessel