Not all tender tracking systems are created equal, even if they satisfy insurance requirements.
With tenders getting larger and charter guests expecting more toys on board, towing tenders is becoming the norm. But with greater distances and more night towing, insurance companies are rightly demanding proper safety systems. Yacht managers have reported alarming losses — some losing up to 10 tenders in a year.
Insurers are increasingly asking for advanced tow protection systems that monitor bilge, battery and distance between both mothership and tender, with instant bridge alerts if thresholds are breached, as well as website tracking. Trackers alone aren’t enough and may not be supported by reliable claims processes.
To reduce risk and meet insurer requirements, it’s essential to receive immediate alerts if the bilge is filling with water, if the battery powering the pumps is failing or if the tow line has parted — detected through changes in a defined geofence. Some insurers also now require online-accessible tracking data in the event of a loss, reinforcing the need for robust, real-time monitoring.
Relying on a basic tracker just to tick an insurance box may meet some minimum requirements, but it won’t truly protect the tender. Limiting operations to daytime or fair-weather towing might meet some policy terms, but it’s far from practical. Investing in a system that falls short of full protection could still leave you exposed — not only to the risk of losing the tender, but also to disrupted charters, dissatisfied guests and the considerable cost of recovery and replacement.
Yacht Trace recently developed a two-way RF communications system with GPS on each side for dynamic geofence range that delivers fast, pre-emptive alerts, working alongside insurers to mitigate loss. With Iridium as emergency backup, it’s a plug-and-play system that requires no hardwiring — built to satisfy all insurance clauses but more importantly saving you a high future cost.
In contrast, standalone trackers, AIS and cheaper systems often fall short in one or more areas and are therefore not covered by insurance at all, or for the full range of towing: they lack real-time separation data (GPS on both sides measuring the distance in between), rely on delayed or limited updates (often 30 minutes, even though a tender can sink in five), may fail offshore (cellular) and typically don’t monitor critical systems like bilge or battery — leaving tenders vulnerable to rapid loss.
Even tenders not being towed are vulnerable. Captains have witnessed that garaged tenders put out temporarily can still be lost to rope failure or theft.
Ultimately, the discussion is shifting from simply meeting insurance minimums to adopting proactive safety measures. Yacht captains and managers are weighing the operational and reputational costs of avoidable tender loss and investing in tools that can give them the information they need to act in time. With more tender losses, the underwriters also will be looking at more restrictions and recommendations in the future, so getting ahead now can make you future proof.
Think of it like car insurance — you might opt for third-party cover, knowing it offers limited protection with some money back guaranteed. But adding safety features to the car helps prevent the loss from happening in the first place, which is ultimately what everyone wants and avoids huge bills with less disruption.
With tender prices now ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million euros, they’re no longer just accessories — they’re assets that facilitate an income, which need proper protection.
It’s worth pausing to do the math: what would it truly cost — not just in recovery and buying a new tender, but in time, service disruption and guest experience if your tender was lost? Is it worth saving a few thousand on a cheaper tracker, or should you invest in something that will save you much more in the future?
Deborah Fry is co-founder and director of Yacht Trace. yachttrace.com