When it comes to superyacht security and privacy, Dutch yard Oceanco takes some beating. They recently revealed the secrets behind some of their extraordinary superyacht gadgets that wouldn’t be out of place in a James Bond film.
In the world of superyachts, there custom is always right and Oceanco is well versed in providing the ultimate in custom-built solutions.
The Dutch superyacht builder has created a fleet of extremely diverse and bespoke yachts that set a benchmark in terms of design and innovation.
And with a constant demand for new facilities and technologies, the company has increasingly met with, and delivered on, requests for secret-service level superyacht gadgets.
Drone-blocking force fields, motion-detecting smart floors… they might seem like something from the set of No Time To Die, but, in fact, these are real technologies that Oceanco can supply and is developing.
“When it comes to creating a fully bespoke superyacht, we are accustomed to the challenges of specialist requests such as these,” says Paris Baloumis, Oceanco’s Marketing Director. “James Bond had ‘Q’ to supply his outlandish gadgets; superyacht owners have ‘O’, aka Oceanco!”
Take a look at the 10 superyacht gadgets below and you’ll agree – they would be right at home in a James Bond film!
Citadel rooms
In the extremely rare event of being boarded by an army of evil henchmen, superyacht owners can simply retreat to their citadel room.
Citadels are kitted out with independent, overriding access to the yacht’s navigational and satellite communications systems, so even when you don’t have access to the bridge, you can maintain full control.
The rooms are fitted with reinforced doors and have ballistic protection on the surrounding walls. Inside, they’re equipped with their own ventilation systems as well as water and food supplies to provide total self-sufficiency.
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Emergency escape life pods
The next generation of citadels could be distinctly more mobile. Like a cross between a lifeboat and a spaceship, these emergency escape ‘life-pods’ provide a rapid getaway.
The watertight pods are constructed from high-tech materials to resist impact and feature built-in GPS trackers, temperature and fire barrier controls, and air purification systems.
Anti-drone systems
Hoping to avoid the prying eyes of the paparazzi? First you need a defence system identifying any commercial drones in operation within a 20km radius, providing GPS positions of both the drone and the pilot.
Then you need a 500-metre electronic ‘exclusion zone’ around the yacht. Like some sort of sci-fi force field, this superyacht gadget blocks any unwanted airborne visitors.
If the drone makes it to the perimeter of the exclusion zone, its controls and video feed are jammed, effectively rendering the pilot’s controls useless, and its ‘return to home’ function (which usually kicks in when the drone has a low battery) is triggered.
91.5m megayacht Tranquility at the anchor in a Mediterranean bay. One of her crew is controlling the helm from the balcony. Photo: Guillaume Plisson
Acoustic deterrents
Keep pirates at a safe distance… The Long-Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD for short is a sonic device that emits an uncomfortable, high-pitched noise, above the tolerance of the average person, causing them to be driven away.
With a practical range of more than 3km, these superyacht gadgets can be adjusted to broadcast voice commands in numerous languages on top of the deterrent tones.
Intruder diver deterrents
Think someone could sneak up on a superyacht by pulling on a wet suit and scuba gear? Think again, as some superyachts are choosing to install sonar systems that detect, track and identify divers or underwater vehicles approaching from any direction.
109m Bravo Eugenia at Oceanco’s yard in Holland during the system’s final tuning stage. Photo: Francisco Martinez
Onboard hospitals
If you’re involved in a naval scuffle, you might need immediate treatment… Or you might simply have a bit of an upset stomach…
Kitted out like an emergency room of a private hospital, the onboard hospital is equipped with oxygen tanks, defibrillators, specialised medications and intravenous fluids.
Should a patient require further medical attention, most of today’s large yachts have helipads (of course) to bring in medical assistance or to evacuate by air.
Diagnostic kits
Crew, or even medical professionals (who you might feel safest taking along) can link up to a remote medical support line such as MedAire from International SOS, allowing a team of doctors to see the patient’s condition in real-time and provide advice on procedures or medication in order to stabilise the patient.
110m megayacht Kaos at Oceanco’s yard in Holland. Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht Times
Smart floors
Currently in development, these smart floors are like an upgraded surveillance system for the 21st century. They track movement and can be used, not only for security, but also to control lighting or heating.
Super-tough windows
The ingenious engineers behind A60 windows have taken the notion of toughened safety glass to new heights. Made from hot extruded steel or stainless steel profiles, the compound glass windows provide protection against a fire for up to an hour and are available in a range of thicknesses.
Cybersecurity net
Fearful of a cyberattack? Oceanco has been working with cyber-security professionals to ensure its yachts are built with the kind of network protections that will keep owners and crew safe from hackers.
