Focus: "Maritime Security: Today's Victories and Tomorrow's Challenges"

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- January 8th will usher in the launching of Piracy Daily which, together with the already-published Piracy Daily Bulletin, is meant to provide critical understanding of a centuries-old (and the first-recognized) international crime against humanity—maritime piracy, a well-known but frequently misunderstood illegal activity that just late last year was elevated for full consideration by UN Security Council.

The new online Web site (www.piracydaily.com / available this weekend) and the bi-weekly Bulletin highlight key stories and interviews focusing on piracy issues worldwide.

The inaugural conference, "Maritime Security: Today's Victories and Tomorrow's Challenges," will have as its keynote speaker Rear Admiral Terry McKnight, USN (Ret.), author of Pirate Alley: Commanding Task Force 151 off Somalia.

AdvanFort, a recognized leader in global maritime security solutions, is sponsoring the conference.

Maritime piracy is of major concern to the international community as it affects several of the most important world trade routes, with huge financial and other implications for business, global security and the basic rights of law-abiding peoples everywhere.

The event will be held next Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., in the National Press Club's Murrow Room. A one-hour discussion by RADM (ret.) McKnight, the first commander of multinational Task Force 151 off the coast of Somalia, and three other well-known maritime security experts will be followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer period.

The other confirmed participants are:

--  Charles N. Dragonette, a recently-retired senior analyst on piracy at the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence.

--  John A. C. Cartner, the designated Proctor in Admiralty by the Maritime Law Association of the United States; a member of other state maritime law associations, and the principal author of The International Law of the Shipmaster.

--  William H. (Will) Watson, vice president of government affairs and governor with the Maritime Security Council, where he represents the Maritime Industry on the National Council of ISACs (Information Sharing & Analysis Centers), and the president of AdvanFort.

In addition, RADM (ret.) McKnight will be available to sign copies of Pirate Alley.

If you are interested in attending, please contact us at RSVP@piracydaily.com, and include in your request your full name, title, the organization you represent, your telephone number, as well as your e-mail address.

For more information about Piracy Daily, visit us this weekend at www.piracydaily.com.

SOURCE Piracy Daily