Port Manatee, situated at the entrance to Tampa Bay just beyond the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, is considered to be the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal. Eight million tons of cargo are handled annually long its 1.5 miles of berthing for vessels, which exports cargoes of mostly orange juice and fertilizer. Most are unaware, however, that Port Manatee is quickly becoming a center for maritime security training.
According to its website, Port Manatee is the only seaport in the United States that is certified by the Maritime Administration to provide facility security officer training, an offering that has been utilized by over 1,000 facility security officers since 2005. This 18-hour course, presented over two days every quarter, is at a cost of $400 per student.
Other course offerings include MTSA for First Responders, MTSA Security Awareness, MTSA Security Plan Auditing, and Port Security Personnel Training. Individual course descriptions, fees, and availability can be found on the Port Manatee training website by clicking here.
According to a recent article by the Bradenton Herald, the port intends to expand its course offerings that may include a master's degree in maritime business with the cooperation of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives. Currently, Port Manatee plans to seek grant funding and host instructors for its future endeavor to be a niche maritime security training facility.
