Book Review: A Practitioner’s Guide to Effective Maritime and Port Security

​A Practitioner’s Guide to Effective Maritime and Port Security. By Michael Edgerton, CPP. Wiley; wiley.com; 296 pages; $75.95.

This book is directed at those practicing maritime security in the international environment and it fulfills that goal quite well. Readers will learn about the global supply chain and the important role maritime security plays in it. Author Michael Edgerton, CPP,​ has worked in the maritime industry for more than 25 years and bases his  recommendations on the premise that enhancing security promotes international trade.​

The text is broken down into four distinct sections that analyze the operating environment, threats, current approaches to security, and, finally, principles for effective risk-based maritime and port security. The chapters on conducting security risk assessments and threat assessments provide very good tools for those readers that may need to engage in these activities at their facilities. 

A detailed guide for students learning about the subject, it would also be a valuable reference for the port security specialist in any international port.

One current threat topic that was not discussed in any depth is the ever-growing cyber threat in the maritime community. Recent attacks have crippled international maritime logistics companies as well as seagoing vessels. Perhaps this topic could be considered for a second edition of the text.

Reviewer: William (Bill) Crews, CPP, is president and owner of Security & Resilience Consulting LLC, in Houston, Texas. He has been a member of ASIS for 20 years and earned his CPP designation in 2003. He served as director of port security and emergency operations for the Port of Houston Authority from 2008 to 2011.  During his tenure, Houston was the third-largest port in the U.S. for total cargo and the second-largest petrochemical port in the world next to Rotterdam.