Superyacht Security in the Mediterranean: A Practical Guide for Captains and Owners

A superyacht is simultaneously a floating residence, a transport asset, a status signal and a soft target. The concentration of valuables aboard — fine art, jewellery, cash, tender craft — combined with the exposure of anchoring in public bays and marina berths, creates a threat environment that requires professional management.

Mediterranean Threat Zones by Season

The threat profile varies significantly by geography. The Adriatic (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania) has seen an increase in organised theft from anchored yachts. The Tyrrhenian (Sardinia, Corsica, Amalfi) requires management of paparazzi activity from rigid inflatables. The Aegean (Greek islands) presents lower maritime crime but higher shore-side exposure in crowded ports like Mykonos and Santorini.

• Pre-season vessel security audit and crew briefing
• Anchorage selection based on crime mapping and privacy index
• Anti-piracy watch protocols for overnight anchorage
• Shore excursion CP integration with vessel security team
• Tender and tender-driver vetting
• Art and jewellery manifest management and securing

The Maritime Security Team Structure

A fully crewed superyacht security programme typically involves a maritime security advisor working with the captain and first officer on voyage planning, a rotating watch of two to four qualified maritime security officers, and integration with the shore-based CP team during port calls. Command authority at sea rests with the captain; the security advisor provides intelligence and assessment.

Coordinating Vessel and Land Operations

The handover point — from vessel to tender to shore — is the highest-risk moment in any yacht-based operation. We establish defined protocols for each port of call: landing point selection, vehicle pre-positioning, communication check-in sequence and abort criteria. Nothing is left to improvisation at the water's edge.