WTCNO

Contact:
Aaron Ellis – AAPA
(703) 706-4714 / aellis@aapa-ports.org

Chris Bonura – Port of New Orleans
(504) 528-3222/ bonurac@portno.com

PORT, GOV’T EXPERTS TO DISCUSS MARITIME SECURITY,
DISASTER RECOVERY IN NEW ORLEANS, JULY 21-23

USCG Rear Admiral Mary Landry To
Highlight Gulf Oil Spill Recovery Efforts

New Orleans, La. (July 1, 2010) – Security is one of the highest priorities for seaports throughout the Western Hemisphere.  Protecting the people and freight 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), in cooperation with the Port of New Orleans, will hold its annual Port Security Seminar July 21-23 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans.  Among the topics to be discussed are port policing and law enforcement challenges, crime scene management, issues surrounding the new Transportation Worker Identification Credential, federal port security policies and legislation, and emergency preparedness.

In addition, the program will feature special sessions on disaster recovery and resiliency planning, including a presentation by U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry—commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District headquartered in New Orleans—on the oil spill recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.

The seminar’s keynote speaker will be Michael Balboni, principal of Navigator Global.  Mr. Balboni formerly served as New York’s deputy secretary of public safety, with day-to-day responsibility for managing homeland security affairs, law enforcement and emergency preparedness and response, overseeing 63,000 employees and a budget of $5 billion.

“Safe and secure seaport facilities are absolutely fundamental to protecting our citizens and national borders, and for moving the goods we all depend on every day,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO.  “AAPA and its member ports collaborate with both government officials and private-sector security experts to maintain and enhance seaport security.”

According to Gary LaGrange, the Port of New Orleans’ president, ensuring the integrity of the supply chain requires a concerted effort by ports, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and maritime industry stakeholders. “Protecting ports from both natural and man-made disasters is an increasingly complex issue. Conferences like this one help protect our ports by coordinating the efforts of all the parties who have a stake in keeping commerce flowing,” Mr. LaGrange said.

More information about AAPA’s 2010 Port Security Seminar is available at 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=17160

WHO: American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), in cooperation with the Port of New Orleans.  Siemens, a worldwide provider of port security equipment and electrical engineering services, is sponsoring the July 22 luncheon.

WHAT: Maritime security seminar focusing on seaport security trends, policies and legislation, disaster recovery and resiliency planning.

WHEN: Wednesday-Friday, July 21-23, 2010 (Day 1, 8:30am-5:00pm; Day 2, 8:45am-5:00pm; Day 3, 9:00am-12:30pm).

WHERE: Hilton New Orleans Riverside, 2 Poydras Street, New Orleans, La., 70130

MEDIA: Credentialed journalists interested in covering the seminar for media purposes are asked to contact Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org, to obtain a media pass.