NSSLGlobal launches Guardian anti-piracy ship communications
NSSLGlobal has launched GUARDIAN, an anti-piracy communication system for ships, intended for crews sheltering in citadel safe rooms during attacks.
GUARDIAN combines satellite communications with VHF radio to help crews stay in contact with coastguards, naval vessels, ship owners and operators when armed intruders are on board. It is designed to keep working even if power to the citadel is cut, using a battery-backed system.
The launch comes as piracy incidents increase worldwide. According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau, pirates boarded 121 vessels in 2025, while total incidents against ships rose 18% to 137 from 116 in 2024.
The increase included more crew abductions and hostage-taking. Guns were used in 42 incidents, up from 26 a year earlier, while knives were used in 33.
Hotspots include the Singapore Straits and the Gulf of Guinea, while waters off Somalia remain a risk for shipping. The trend has kept pressure on vessel operators to review onboard security arrangements and emergency communications for crews forced to retreat to secure rooms.
System design
The system supports voice, SMS and tracking over satellite links. Its VHF radio has a large display intended to make it easier to use in high-stress situations.
It is aimed at vessels that need to maintain communication with external responders during an attack. In piracy incidents, crews may move to a citadel to await military or coastguard assistance, making communications equipment one of the few systems that must continue functioning if access to the rest of the vessel is lost.
Operators also face compliance requirements tied to these arrangements. Installing GUARDIAN can help owners and operators meet International Maritime Organisation requirements for citadels to have critical communications with battery backup, while also supporting insurance-related mandates.
Market pressure
The launch reflects broader demand for maritime security equipment as shipowners respond to higher risks on some trade routes. For shipping companies, piracy can bring operational disruption, ransom exposure, crew welfare concerns and higher insurance costs.
UK-based NSSLGlobal has operated in maritime communications for more than five decades. The group also provides satellite communications, IT management, project engineering and systems integration for maritime, government and other mobility markets.
It employs more than 250 staff across several countries in Europe, Singapore and the United States. Its work spans commercial shipping as well as defence, government, responder and humanitarian users operating at sea, on land and in the air.
In the maritime sector, its customers include patrol vessels, coastguard ships, oil tankers and aircraft carriers. It also has a research and development division in Norway working on IPTV and VSAT technology for mobility and fixed applications.
Announcing the launch, Group CEO Sally-anne Ray set out the company's view of the security backdrop facing shipping operators. "Our GUARDIAN Anti-Piracy Communication System is designed to help crews when lives are at stake - it is an extremely important development that we are announcing today," Ray said.
"Piracy is on the rise in many parts of the globe, and crews must have reliable communications so they can seek help and maintain contact with coastguards, naval vessels and their own headquarters. Operators deserve the best possible protection and most resilient communications system available to protect their people, their assets and their reputations," she added.