Maritime and Port Security Week

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A Showcase of Capacity in British Columbia

From February 13 to 17, 2007, more than 100 individuals – including U.S. port officials, Canadian port officials, executives from the Canadian maritime and port security industry and other stakeholders – participated in Maritime and Port Security Week, a five-day business development and networking initiative.  The organizers and sponsors included Western Economic Diversification Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Industry Canada, BC Innovation Council, and the University of Victoria.

The initiative, supported under the Enhanced Representation Initiative (ERI)*, was one element in a longer-term international business development strategy that was developed by industry and government officials who focus on the maritime and port industry. The driver behind the strategy was enhanced security requirements following the events of September 11, 2001. Earlier projects included an improved Canadian presence at the U.S. Maritime Security Expo in New York City in September 2005 (also ERI supported), and a series of seminars in Victoria and Vancouver on U.S. Federal procurement with a focus on maritime and port security.

Objective: 

To assist Canadian companies to take advantage of the commercial opportunities available to them across Canada and the U.S. in the rapidly growing maritime and port security industry. 

Activities: 

• Port Security and Demonstration Workshop on February 13 and 14 at Dunsmuir Lodge in Victoria, BC.
• Maritime and Port Security networking seminar on February 15 at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside in Vancouver, BC.
• Maritime and Port Security Technology Solutions Showcase / Site Visits on February 16.
• “Networking on the Slopes” event on February 17 in Whistler, BC.

Results:

• As a result of the networking seminar, the Port of San Diego is now in negotiations with several British Columbia companies to purchase their maritime and port security products and services.
• A “Trends, Challenges and Solutions in Maritime and Port Security” DVD was produced that featured video footage from the February 15 networking seminar presentations at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel.  The DVD was distributed to all Port Security Week participants from across North America, and is also being used to promote the profile of the B.C. port security industry to potential clients around the world.
• A B.C. Industry Guide for Maritime and Port Security was developed for the event through funding from Industry Canada-Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC). All industry participants were invited to submit their profiles and contact information, and the guides were included in the information packages for ports officials.
• Among those surveyed, approximately 90 per cent of participants believed the event provided valuable information and participation resulted in strong business development opportunities.
• Selected participant feedback:
  
  
  • “The networking reception was a very good social event and I appreciated the opportunity to visit one-on-one with the various representatives.”
  • “The event was very well organized and participation of both security providers and users interacted well.  The presentations of available security systems and products kept my attention and got me to thinking how my port could benefit in the future.  I also appreciated the opportunity to compare security issues with other port security directors.”
  • “The day-long tour of security firms went without a hitch. Very well planned. I was particularly impressed with some of the underwater surveillance technology. The Kongsberg representatives made a good presentation…The Avigilon presentation of their camera technology was most impressive. I have passed on information gained to the appropriate Lake Charles Port employees.”
  • “I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Vancouver and talk with the many people involved in port security and security technology. Overall, I enjoyed the program.”
  • “I especially enjoyed the discussion of port security with the Port of Vancouver. It was a great opportunity to compare notes and see some of the interesting innovations they are applying to the challenges of working waterfronts in urban areas.”

*The Enhanced Representative Initiative (ERI) is a cooperative partnership of the departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Industry Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, as well as the National Research Council, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec and Western Economic Diversification Canada.  Launched in September 2003, ERI is a five-year program mandated to strengthen Canada's capacity to advocate its interests in vital economic, political and security matters and to develop innovative strategic partnerships in emerging U.S. economic power centres. For more information on ERI, visit the website.