Sets forth practices to ensure security and foster international trade Written with an international perspective, this book analyzes the complex set of factors affecting the security of port and maritime operations, including shipping, politics, economics, crime, and terrorism. Author Michael Edgerton critiques current approaches to maritime and port security based on his more than twenty-five years of experience in the field. He not only points out vulnerabilities in today's practices, but also provides a set of proven and tested recommendations that recognize the role and interests of both government and the private sector in enhancing security while ensuring the flow of international trade. Readers may be surprised to learn that, with greater efficiency, they can actually improve security while reducing the cost of security at the same time. Using real-world case studies to support its analyses and recommendations, A Practitioner's Guide to Effective Maritime and Port Security: Reviews the core components of the international maritime operating environment Assesses the potential threats to ports in the maritime environment Examines approaches to maritime port security in the United States, European Union, and around the world Presents principles for effective, risk-based maritime and port security At the end of the book, two appendices provide a framework for conducting security risk assessments and threat assessments. There's also a third appendix to help organizations assess their "risk appetite." Recommended for students and professionals responsible for the safety and security of ports and maritime trade, this book reframes port and maritime security as a key component of a multidisciplinary system in which secure and efficient trade is the objective.