GOST helps guard vessels from theft with SKYWAVE smart satellite technology

About GOST

Headquartered in Florida, Global Ocean Security Technologies (GOST) has been a global leader in marine monitoring, tracking, security, and surveillance for 17 years. Its systems provide boaters with real-time alerts, satellite tracking, and video surveillance, helping protect against theft, fire, smoke, high water, low voltage, loss of shore power, and unwanted intrusion.

Leveraging SKYWAVE’s advanced satellite terminals and connectivity, GOST delivers state-of-the-art solutions that incorporate a variety of sensors and devices to help owners and operators protect their marine craft. GOST’s technology helps deter vessel theft and facilitates recovery anywhere in the world with accurate location data.

With comprehensive end-to-end support, GOST’s systems provide real-time satellite tracking to help ensure loved ones are safe at sea or have arrived safely after a crossing. They also provide alerts that report location data to authorities if a boat is stolen.

The challenge

According to Brian Kane, Chief Technology Officer at GOST, marine vessels are a target for thieves because of their high value—whether it’s the vessel itself or the thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics and equipment onboard.

“Boat owners and operators are constantly looking for ways to protect their valuable assets remotely,” says Kane. “Likewise, insurers are heavily invested in protecting these vessels to avoid large payouts and settlements. Today, many insurance companies require proof of both satellite tracking and a security system before they will insure a vessel.”

Occasionally, despite these measures, boats are still stolen. When that happens, tracking the vessel’s movement is often the only way to recover it.

The GOST Specter platform works with SKYWAVE’s ST 9100 IoT device to detect events and notify the designated party (owner, operator, or yacht manager) via text message and email.

When an alert is triggered, the system provides the owner, crew, and/or vessel manager with the vessel’s location, coordinates, heading, and speed. If a theft is confirmed, they can then liaise with the Coast Guard or local maritime law enforcement to ensure a rapid response.

“Our security system data is admissible in court, helping protect vessel owners in theft and damage cases,” says Kane.

“Our video recordings are valuable not only for insurance purposes but also for supporting law enforcement.”

In addition to theft prevention, the technology monitors all onboard systems while vessels are in port and provides critical assistance during emergencies.

If something goes wrong at sea—such as an engine malfunction, the risk of sinking, or adverse weather conditions—the system transmits the vessel’s exact status and location. It also indicates if the vessel is taking on water or experiencing a loss of battery voltage, even while docked. Approximately 80% of all vessel sinkings occur while boats are at the dock.

The solution

GOST’s solutions include satellite tracking, video surveillance, and security monitoring through a range of sensors, alarms, cameras, flashing lights, smoke machines, and acoustic barriers that produce loud noises to deter intruders.

A fogging system, the GOST Cloak, can be triggered automatically when an intrusion is detected, locking down the vessel to protect valuables onboard by releasing a dense fog into designated areas.

GOST’s onboard security system is connected to a SKYWAVE satellite device, allowing owners to be notified within seconds if an alarm is triggered.

The IoT device is installed discreetly onboard—it can be mounted behind fiberglass and coring—making it difficult to locate and disable.

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With SKYWAVE’s technology and our new, streamlined vessel tracking interface, customers have access to the most reliable and user-friendly system on the market.

Brian Kane

Chief Technology Officer, GOST

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The device is designed to operate in some of the harshest marine environments, including adverse weather conditions and temporary submersion.

“Insurance companies really appreciate that GOST’s tracking systems operate over a geostationary, two-way satellite network with 99.9% global messaging capability, as mandated by the IMO,” says Kane. “While our systems have been directly responsible for preventing theft, recovering vessels, and enabling offshore response by authorities, they have also eased the stress of loved ones onshore when a boat is running late after a day of offshore fishing.”

The GOST Specter portal can be accessed easily from any mobile device or computer, enabling users to remotely track a vessel’s location, monitor its status, and view live video from the vessel.

One of the unique features of the solution is its two-way data transmission capability, which allows owners to remotely control their security system. With just a few taps on their mobile device, a GOST customer can view the location of their vessel, along with the status of the security system and many of the other onboard systems.

Owners can securely monitor their vessel, remotely arm or disarm the security system, and set geofences to receive alerts when the vessel enters or leaves a designated area. To reduce data usage costs, the security system performs checks at scheduled intervals throughout the day rather than continually transmitting data over the network.

Results

“GOST security systems have been installed on thousands of marine vessels, including some of the largest and most valuable privately owned boats and their tenders. GOST’s customers have been able to protect their valuable assets and achieve the peace of mind of knowing that their boats and passengers are safe and secure,” says Kane.

Marine vessels equipped with GOST security systems are much less likely to be stolen or have onboard equipment stolen. GOST has saved hundreds of boats from theft through a variety of methods. Sometimes, all it takes is a siren and a strobe, while on other occasions, the vessel must be tracked down using location data.

The system can also capture thieves on video to help authorities identify them. Kane and his team tested several providers before finding what they were looking for in SKYWAVE.

“We conducted a thorough market search to find a high-performance satellite tracking device to power our enhanced security and location-based services for maritime fleets,” says Kane. “With SKYWAVE’s technology and our new, streamlined vessel tracking interface, customers have access to the most reliable and user-friendly system on the market.”