Maritime Security 2013 East a huge success
The Maritime Security 2013 East program was a smashing success! From April 15-17, our event in St. Petersburg, FL drew a large crowd representing 47 separate agencies and organizations. Although many participants were local to the Tampa Bay area, even more flew from different regions of the country with some from as far away as California! Easily, these stats make us believe that Maritime Security 2013 East was the most representative and comprehensive maritime security conference recently. We are so honored and humbled for the outstanding turnout and representation, especially when one considers shrinking travel budgets that many in our sector are contending with.
April 15 began with three groups of up to 25 preregistered people who were the first in the general public to learn about DHS &SRI International's Maritime Security Program Coastal Surveillance System, a comprehensive information integration program. These groups were also provided special access to the USCG Sector St. Petersburg facility, where they inspected PLUTO, a surrogate narco-sub used for training missions in the effort to combat drug smuggling on the high seas. The day concluded with an outstanding cocktail and buffet reception at SRI International?s St. Petersburg facility, in which conference participants mingled with SRI International, DHS personnel, law enforcement officers and elected representatives from the City of St. Petersburg.
April 16 and 17 were packed with presentations and panels from morning to evening. High ranking officials from the Coast Guard, DHS, port authorities, law enforcement, and private companies discussed relevant maritime security threats and solutions along a wide range of topics, among them being small vessel security, port facility security, counter piracy, the 2012 Republican National Convention, and the latest in tools used to make our waters and facilities safer for all. Keynote speaker Read Admiral William D. Baumgartner (USCG) reminded attendees of the importance maritime security is in today's environment, a lesson which lingered in all participants throughout the program.
Special gratitude is extended to SRI International, DHS Science & Technology, The Port Authority of Tampa, the Tampa Bay Harbor Safety & Security Committee,
Terma North America, Innovative Signal Analysis, USCG Sector St. Petersburg, and all sponsors and attendees for making Maritime Security 2013 East the epicenter for sharing ideas and information about maritime security.
The goals and results of Maritime Security 2013 West will be even higher than its predecessor in St. Petersburg. This subsequent program, held August 19-21 in Long Beach CA, will be an event you won¹t want to miss out on. Be sure to visit http://www.maritimesecurity2013.com/west for registration and other detailed information.
