Port of Houston Authority Selects Portstar for Innovative Online Port Security Training

Houston, TX - The Port of Houston Authority’s Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) Branch has selected PORTSTAR™ Seaport Security Training System as their choice for online port security training. The parties have reached a licensing agreement that will provide the Port Authority with an annual subscription to this cutting edge e-learning program. The agreement includes online support and access to instructor-led materials in areas such as maritime security awareness and seaport security.

“We are extremely proud to have been selected by the Port Authority for this important role,” said Ralston MacDonnell,CEO of MacDonnell Group©, owners of PORTSTAR™. “PORTSTAR™ is where port security meets e-learning. It will allow the Port Authority to consistently train their employees with the convenience of the online education.”

While relatively new to the port and maritime security world, e-learning has successfully established itself as one of the most globally accepted cost-effective training solutions.

PORTSTAR™ is a comprehensive web-based seaport security training system comprised of nine courses with 480 lessons. This training system helps fulfill United States Coast Guard and United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) security training requirements and provide 24/7 professional development opportunities to a blue ribbon family of port authorities, terminal operators, police departments and security guard companies across the United States.

“We are pleased to start incorporating PORTSTAR™ into our regular training,” said Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Branch (HSSE), Managing Director, Marcus Woodring. “We believe that PORTSTAR™ is the right fit with the Port Authority’s growing security and port operational needs and will contribute to a more educated workforce and resilient port operation.”

PORTSTAR™ is the only solution of its kind and is rapidly moving to become the American standard of practice.

Some others that currently use PORTSTAR™ include: Virginia Port Police, Allied Barton, San Diego Port Authority, Port Canaveral, Port of Everett, Port of Panama City, and Ceres Terminals USA.

About MacDonnell Group: MacDonnell has been providing engineering and management consulting services to its clients for over 50 years. The Halifax-based company provides port management and seaport security training as a business focus. MacDonnell offers MARAD and Transport Canada approved instructor-led and online training solutions for the more than 4 million port workers in North America. The company also provides the PORTSTAR™ Seaport Security Training System to numerous United States ports, terminal operators and security organizations. MacDonnell recently hosted the second annual Port Security Operations Conference and Expo in Port Everglades, Florida and the seventh annual Port Security Conference of Canada in Ottawa. The Port Security Operations Conference Long Beach is scheduled for November 19-21, 2013. The increasingly popular CPE Certified Port Executive ™ Program is also offered through MacDonnell Group to industry professionals.