Piracy, an extremely rare, yet often talked about hazard in the boating space, has yielded few solutions other than armed security whilst cruising in dangerous areas. The real estate market has come up decades ago with the concept of a panic room where owners could hide in the event of an armed robbery. How could this actually work in yachting?
Simon Rowland, CEO of Veritas International Consultants, indicates that while the general concern with security matters in the world is growing, it is not surprising that these issues transmit into the yachting industry. “If you go back five years, it would have been a hard justification to have a panic room on board, but now it is becoming more of a requirement,” claims Rowland.
There are two significant functions that a panic room should perform. It should not only support life, but also enable communication between the sheltered ones and the outer world. That is why the consultants from Veritas company normally recommend to locate a panic room at the crew mess, and it is important to think over all security measures on design stage. It is also cheaper to equip a safe room within that area, as a lot of important facilities such as water supply and toilets are already fit into the mess room.
However, the locations, where a completely secure room can be equipped, are not limited to the crew mess. Rowland reports that they have advised several clients to equip their room or bathroom as secondary safe rooms, so that they could hide themselves in case they feel anxious or if the boat is being robbed.
It is natural, that most of the owners would not stay on board while the boat passes through dangerous zones, therefore panic rooms are in a greater degree a measure aimed to protect the crew rather than the owners. The yachts themselves might be comparatively vulnerable against piracy, as conventional defense mechanisms applied to many vessels do not seem that effective. For instance, many rely on razor wire, but in fact this measure would not normally prevent the criminals from getting on board.
That is why the need of taking security measures on-board is becoming more vital these days. Rowland stresses, that it is much more common to have a fully equipped safe room on larger vessels of 70 metres and above, as it might be quite problematic to fit such room onto a smaller yacht.
All in all, the danger of piracy or any other form of attack on a large vessel is very low in our time. Nonetheless, panic rooms have become one of the latest trends the owners would not want to overlook in their superyacht design.
Oyster Yachts has introduced its new 24-meter 805 sailing yacht, developed with Humphreys Yacht Design. The model features a twin-access swim platform, configurable interior layouts, and solar-powered hardtop.CEO Ashley Highfield confirmed first delivery for 2027. The yacht offers 3.4-meter or 2.7-meter keel options, with the latter complying with Mediterranean seagrass regulations.Former Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös joins as strategic advisor, stating: "Oyster is very similar to what Rolls-Royce is all about with its relentless striving for perfection."The 805 includes four convertible guest cabins and Oyster's largest sub-30-meter owner's suite. Standard features include ultra-thin marble surfaces and 3kW solar generation.Oyster Yachts was founded in 1973 by Richard Matthews. For 52 years the British brand has created the world’s finest luxury bluewater sailboats.Credits: Oyster Yachts
May 30, 2025
The 2025 ICOMIA Congress, hosted by Spain's ANEN in Palma de Mallorca, concluded yesterday after five days of meetings and events. The gathering, held concurrently with IFBSO's annual congress, brought together marine industry representatives, including Italy's delegation led by Andrea Razeto of the Italian Marine Industry Association.Key discussions centered on three committees chaired by Stefano Pagani Isnardi: the Technical Committee addressed upcoming revisions to the European Recreational Craft Directive; the Superyacht Division examined IMO greenhouse gas reduction proposals and French anchorage restrictions; while the new Trade and Market Intelligence Committee analyzed global tariff developments. ICOMIA has launched dedicated online resources for Posidonia meadow protection updates and tariff tracking.Frank Hugelmeyer (NMMA) was elected ICOMIA President, succeeding Darren Vaux, with Finnboat's Jarkko Pajusalo as Vice President. The board expanded to include representatives from Spain, Turkey, Sweden, and Australia alongside existing members.The 2026 Congress is scheduled for May 24-28 in Washington, D.C., hosted by NMMA.Credits: The Italian Marine Industry Association; Eugene Zhyvchik/Unsplash
May 30, 2025
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May 30, 2025
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May 29, 2025
Azimut has appointed two new official dealers in the Asia-Pacific region: Europa Yachts in Indonesia and Short Marine in Australia. The partnerships expand the Italian yacht builder's regional network, which already covers China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan.The appointments follow Azimut's selective dealership model, which assigns one dedicated dealer per market to ensure localized expertise and client-focused service. The strategy aligns with growing demand in APAC, where rising wealth and evolving lifestyles are driving yacht ownership.Azimut Grande Trideck"With these new appointments, we are not only expanding our footprint but also enriching the strength of our network," said Enrico Chiaussa, Azimut Chief Commercial Officer EMEA-APAC. "Azimut now boasts the most comprehensive dealership presence in the Asia-Pacific region, and this milestone reflects our strategic vision of pairing world-class products with localized excellence."Europa Yachts, already established in the Philippines, will represent Azimut in Indonesia through a partnership with local entrepreneur Alvin Gozali. The collaboration combines Europa's operational experience with Gozali's market insights."We are honored and excited to bring Azimut Yachts back to Indonesia: by combining the Indonesian deep market knowledge and connections with Thomas's expertise and the strong foundation of Europa Yachts, we are confident this partnership will deliver exceptional results and elevate the yachting experience in the region," said Gozali.Short Marine, a Sydney-based dealer with over 40 years in the industry, will handle Azimut's Australian operations. The company's technical expertise and community ties aim to strengthen the brand's position in a market experiencing growth in high-net-worth individuals.Azimut Fly 62"We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Short Marine, who will now be the point of contact for all the Azimut Yachts clients in Australia," said Murry Offord, Head of Asset Management at Balmain Asset Management. "This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for Azimut in the region."The expansion follows Azimut's recent Asian Rendez-vous event in Tokyo, reinforcing its commitment to the APAC market. The brand continues to prioritize localized service networks to support its growing client base in the region.Azimut Yachts is an Azimut Benetti Group brand. With its Atlantis, Magellano Flybridge, S, Verve and Grande collections, Azimut offers the widest range of 10 to 40 meters.Credits: Azimut Yachts
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