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Drone Fleet Integration for Yacht Security in Montenegro: A Real Case from Boka Bay

How one Boka Bay superyacht turned drones into a 24/7 security shield
When a 55-meter private yacht based in Tivat asked us to solve recurring night-time perimeter breaches and slow inspection cycles, we recommended a full drone fleet integration. The brief was clear: raise situational awareness, shorten response times, and reduce risky manual checks—without adding crew. Below is how our team at yachtservice.me delivered a robust, AI-assisted solution that now runs seamlessly alongside the vessel’s existing systems.
The starting point: strong yacht, weak visibility
The owner’s primary concerns were familiar to many captains in Montenegro. Traditional CCTV left blind spots close to the waterline, tender movements were hard to supervise after dark, and hull inspections required costly diver scheduling. The captain wanted a dependable, integrated approach that our yacht technicians could maintain during routine yacht maintenance, with rapid support via our Boka Bay yacht service base.
Project goals and constraints
  • 24/7 perimeter awareness across mooring, anchoring, and coastal transits
  • Fast incident response with live video and automated alerts
  • Safer inspections of hard-to-reach structures without exposing crew
  • Tight integration with radar, AIS, and onboard alarms
  • Local compliance with Montenegrin maritime and airspace rules
Our solution: AI-powered drone fleet, fully integrated
We deployed a compact fleet of autonomous drones with thermal and low-light cameras, tied into an onboard command app. Smart docks on the upper deck provide automated charging and launch. The system syncs with CCTV and radar, and geofencing keeps drones inside a defined “safe bubble” around the yacht.
Key components we installed
  • AI flight-path planning that adapts to wind, swell, and nearby traffic
  • 4K optical and thermal imaging for day/night scanning
  • Auto-return docks for hands-off charging and redeployment
  • Security-system integration with radar, AIS, and intrusion alarms
  • Encrypted data links for shore-side monitoring from anywhere

Problems we solved — and the exact fixes
1) Night-time blind spots
Problem: CCTV struggled with reflections and narrow angles; intrusions near tenders went unnoticed.
Solution: Thermal-equipped drones now run overlapping patrol loops every 7–12 minutes, auto-tagging heat signatures. Alerts pop up on the bridge tablet with live feeds.
Result: Verified detections increased, false positives dropped, and the crew sleeps better.
2) Slow incident verification
Problem: Alarms required crew to suit up, launch a tender, and visually confirm—often a 20-minute task.
Solution: Immediate drone scramble to GPS coordinates with stabilized zoom and spotlight prompt.
Result: Time-to-visual reduced to under 3 minutes; potential threats are assessed before anyone leaves the deck.
3) Risky manual inspections
Problem: Inspecting mast fittings, exhaust stacks, and upper superstructure meant harnesses and weather windows; hull checks demanded divers.
Solution: Close-proximity flight profiles with collision-avoidance capture 4K stills for our yacht technicians to review on the maintenance portal.
Result: Inspection prep time down 60%; findings feed directly into yacht maintenance tasks and planned yacht repair Tivat slots.
4) Data scattered across systems
Problem: CCTV, radar, and logs lived in silos; incidents were hard to reconstruct.
Solution: Unified dashboard merges drone video, radar returns, and alarm timelines with automatic incident reports.
Result: Clear audit trails; easier handovers between captain, ETO, and shore support.
5) Limited crew bandwidth
Problem: Small security teams cannot watch every screen.
Solution: AI object recognition prioritizes anomalies—unauthorized vessels, swimmers, debris—pushing only critical alerts.
Result: Fewer distractions, higher quality of watch-keeping.

What it means in everyday operations
  • Anchored in Boka Bay: The system runs quiet patrols that adapt to current and traffic, giving a persistent 360-degree picture.
  • Short coastal hops: Drones trail the vessel at a safe offset, scanning for fast-approach craft and surface hazards.
  • After-storm checks: A single flight verifies rigging, antenna mounts, and deck fixtures before guests wake up.
  • SAR readiness: Pre-programmed “man overboard” routes launch in seconds; thermal view speeds localization.
Results after 90 days
  • Time-to-verify incidents: ~3 minutes (down from ~20)
  • Scheduled inspection time: −60% with drone imagery feeding the maintenance calendar
  • False alarms impacting crew: −40% through AI event filtering
  • Guest privacy: Protected via no-record zones and retention rules agreed with the owner
Service, maintenance, and local support you can rely on
Because drones become part of your safety net, they must be maintained like any other critical system. Our yacht service Montenegro team pairs drone upkeep with routine checks: prop wash effects calibration, sensor cleaning, battery health, firmware audits, and data-security reviews. If structural issues are found, our Tivat base schedules yacht repair Tivat works without delaying your itinerary. It is all coordinated by experienced yacht technicians who know both your vessel and the local conditions.

Conclusion: safer yachts, smarter operations
This Boka Bay project proves that drone fleets are more than a gadget—they are a force multiplier for security, maintenance, and guest peace of mind. Integrated properly, they cut verification times, make inspections safer, and give captains a real-time, all-angle view that static cameras cannot.

Ready to raise your security standard?
Contact yachtservice.me to plan your custom drone fleet integration—calibrated to your vessel, itinerary, and privacy needs.

Call to action: Reach out for a tailored assessment and implementation roadmap. Our Boka Bay yacht service hub in Tivat can mobilize quickly, from survey to sea trials.
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