WASHINGTON, April 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Homeland Security and Defense Business Council today released its eighth monograph in its 9/10/11 Project, focusing on how the public and private sectors have worked to protect the nation's port and maritime security environment.
The U.S. Maritime System includes more than 3,700 cargo and passenger terminals and over 1,000 harbor channels along thousands of miles of coastline. In addition, ports' varying degrees of concentrated usage by commercial ships, cargo container ships and cruise ships provide another set of challenges.
"Providing the strongest security combined with fast and efficient commerce has become a priority for both industry and government," said Marc Pearl, Council President & CEO. "We have implemented numerous technologies, policies, and plans to prevent and detect any type of attack on our nation's ports and maritime environment. Since nearly 90% of our critical infrastructure along out coastlines is privately owned, we must continue to develop and support meaningful public-private partnerships to protect these critical points of commerce."
On the 10th of each month through September 2011, the Council will release a monograph that will provide a brief history of our security efforts on a specific topic, as well as an assessment of the future of that topic. Each monograph will include a running timeline (interactive on our website) illustrating the events, incidents, and critical government responses pertinent to that month's topic. Industry leaders will be made available for additional interviews. For more information on the project, visit http://www.homelandcouncil.org/91011-project.html.
Additionally, the Council posted its inaugural National Conversation Series on the State of Homeland Security, its prestigious VIP speaker series that examines critical issues that threaten our homeland security, on its website: http://homelandcouncil.org/partners-in-preparedness-a-the-national-conversation-on-preparedness.html.
These strategic conversations with national leaders from public, private and non-governmental organizations seek to further the strategic vision and direction of our nation's efforts to secure our homeland. The inaugural conversation focused on preparedness and was held to discuss the strategic direction of the nation's preparedness agenda. The event featured W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, FEMA; Gail McGovern, President & CEO, The American Red Cross; and Jack Mayer, Executive Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton & Chairman of the Council.
About the Council
The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of the leading companies that bring homeland security solutions to the marketplace. The Council works to ensure that the perspective, innovation, expertise and capabilities of the private sector are recognized, respected and integrated with the public sector. For more information, please visit: www.homelandcouncil.org.