Security is one of the highest priorities for seaports throughout the Western Hemisphere.  Protecting the people and cargo that move through these international shipping hubs and their surrounding communities is essential for ensuring public safety and keeping regional and national economies intact.

To better enable seaports and their maritime partners to manage today's complex security issues, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) will hold its annual Port Security Seminar and Exposition July 20-22 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, hosted by the Port of New Orleans.  

Among the topics to be discussed are legal issues and jurisdictions related to seaport crime; challenges of implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); and emerging trends in port security technology.  In addition, the program will feature a federal roundtable discussion on port security featuring the Department of Homeland Security Port Security Program Section Chief Julian D. Gilman; lessons learned from the Gulf oil spill crisis last year; and security implications surrounding this year's nuclear disaster in Japan.

More information about AAPA's 2011 Port Security Seminar is available at http://www.aapa-ports.org/  (click on the "Programs & Events" tab and look under "Current Seminar and Workshop Schedule") or by clicking http://www.aapa-ports.org/Programs/seminarschedule.cfm?itemnumber=17564