PDSD-L3.3

Security incidents on yachts: putting it together

PDSD-M3 · Readiness and response · PDSD-M3-A Drills, communications and records; piracy under BMP MS 2026; and handling real yacht incidents.

Most real incidents are **mixed**: a stranger aboard, a drone overhead, a stowaway in the yard, a hoax call. **Contain, report, record.**

Where this sits

Governing: the vessel's SSP; MGN 70 (M) Amendment 1; REG Yacht Code Part A, Chapter 31; MSC.1/Circ.1283; BMP MS 2026. Builds on: the whole course. See also: Ship Security Officer.

The pattern for any incident

  1. Raise the alarm: tell the duty officer or SSO immediately.
  2. Protect people: guests and crew away from the danger.
  3. Contain: close access points, keep watch, stop the situation spreading.
  4. Report: SSO to master and CSO; they decide on authorities.
  5. Record: times, descriptions, actions, names.
  6. Preserve evidence: do not tidy up.
  7. Debrief and review: what worked, what did not, what changes in the plan.

Scenarios yachts actually see

Incident Key actions
Stranger found aboard at night Alarm; keep watch from a distance; do not corner them; SSO and police decide; search after
Stowaway in a yard or port Keep safe and apart; humane treatment; search person and area; master reports (MGN 70)
Suspicious package on the dock by the passerelle Do not touch; move people; raise passerelle; report; follow the SSP on radios and cordon
Hoax or threat call Note exact words, time, voice, background; do not hang up; report at once
Drone over guests Protect people; record; report to SSO and port or police; do not interfere with it
Activists alongside or boarding Secure access; stay calm and professional; communicate; report; avoid confrontation (BMP MS 2026)
Theft of tender or toys Report; secure remaining craft; review night measures
Cyber incident affecting CCTV or doors Report to SSO and ETO; cover by watch; do not reset systems yourself

WARNING: Threat calls Anyone who answers the yacht's phone or the crew radio can receive a threat. Keep the caller talking if you can, write down exactly what is said, and report the moment the call ends.

Private yachts

Many superyachts are private and outside SOLAS XI-2. IMO MSC.1/Circ.1283 gives voluntary security guidance for non-SOLAS vessels, with an appendix for pleasure craft. Owners, insurers and management companies often apply it, or a full SSP, anyway. Commercial yachts of 500 GT and above must comply with the ISPS Code under REG Yacht Code Part A Chapter 31. For you the duties look the same: access control, searches, patrols, reporting.

Close protection teams

Principals often bring close protection officers (CPOs). They protect the person; the SSP protects the vessel. Good practice:

  • the SSO and CPO team leader agree roles before the trip;
  • CPOs are on the crew or guest list and follow access rules;
  • weapons are a master and port-authority matter, agreed in advance;
  • crew report security concerns through the SSO, not straight to the CPOs, unless life is at immediate risk.

Handover

Designated duties do not stop at the end of your watch. Hand over:

  • the current security level;
  • visitors and contractors still aboard, and passes out;
  • defects in equipment and cover in place;
  • anything suspicious seen, even if it came to nothing.

TIP: The quiet season Security slips most in the yard and the off-season, when the yacht is full of contractors and the crew are tired. Keep the gangway log going when it feels least necessary.

Crew who want to take this further should look at Ship Security Officer, which covers the assessment, the plan and its audit.

Practice questions

5 questions

recall · core

What is the first step in responding to any security incident under a typical SSP? (a) Post about it (b) Raise the alarm and inform the duty officer or SSO (c) Investigate alone (d) Wait to see if it resolves

recall · core

How should a stowaway be treated once found? (a) Locked in an enclosed space (b) Kept safe and apart, treated humanely, and reported by the master (c) Put to work to pay for passage (d) Put ashore immediately anywhere

recall · core

Which IMO document offers voluntary security guidance for private yachts? (a) MARPOL Annex V (b) MSC.1/Circ.1283 (c) MSC.560(108) (d) SOLAS III

recall · core

Why should notes be written as soon as possible after an incident? (a) Because the flag state requires them within one hour (b) Details fade fast and contemporaneous notes are better evidence (c) To post on social media (d) To avoid talking to the SSO

scenario · core

Alongside in Monaco during a show, a drone hovers over the sundeck while the owner's family is swimming. What is the proportionate response? (a) Ignore it because drones are legal (b) Use a jammer from the bridge (c) Try to knock it down with a boat hook (d) Move the guests under cover if needed, record the drone's position and time, report to the SSO and the port or police; do not try to interfere with it

Independent study. xplor is not an accredited training provider and awards no certificate or Certificate of Competency. The Designated Security Duties Certificate of Proficiency is issued only after an MCA-approved or recognised course, and your duties are set by your own vessel's ship security plan and SSO. AI-drafted content pending subject-matter-expert review.