Can’t touch this: Security system tracks down stolen tender within six hours

The marine security firm Global Ocean Security Technologies (GOST) has revealed how one of its NavTracker security systems was instrumental in recovering a stolen 34 Regulator tender off St. Martin within six hours of its theft.

The boat, ironically named Can’t Touch This, was stolen off its mooring ball in Simpson Bay on the Caribbean island. The vessel — tender to a larger yacht — was fitted with a GOST NavTracker 1.0 security system that sent out a message when thieves boarded around 11.24pm local time.

The captain was eventually able to recover the vessel at Nettle Bay beach, where it had been abandoned, the next morning.

“We are grateful for the ability to track down our stolen tender and recover it on the beach within six hours, sadly with damage to the radar on T-top as the thieves hit the bridge while exiting the harbour,” says Captain JD Ducanes. “This is the second time in my professional captain career that a GOST system has allowed us to track a customer’s boat and recover the vessel without a total loss.”

Brian Kane, CTO at GOST, adds: “We are hearing of a rise in boat theft throughout the Caribbean and it is believed this vessel was to be used the next night for human trafficking.

“Having saved hundreds of boats with our global satellite tracking system, it’s especially rewarding to have helped the same captain twice across multiple positions.”

Human trafficking is a threat affecting more than 27.6 million people around the world, according to the US Department of State, with 2021 figures estimating annual revenues of more than $150bn worldwide.