Silverstrait Solutions Inc.

Port Security Officer Course

The 1-day Port Security Officer (PSO) course has been designed to help ensure that your port operates with an adequate level of security to maintain Transport Canada’s Certificate of Compliance. Based on the guiding principles of Transport Canada’s Marine Transportation Security Regulations, developed through Canada’s adoption of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code, our PSO course provides: (1) foundational knowledge of marine transportation security in the Canadian context; and (2) “real-world” application of these fundamentals that could be adapted for your Port Master Security Plan. The course is also designed as a discussion forum for Canadian Port Security Officers to share and discuss current Marine Transportation security initiatives and challenges facing Canadian Port Authorities and Port Security Officers.

Who should attend - Canadian Port Security Officers (new and current) with a responsibility for Maritime Transportation Security in Canada.

What you will learn - Through course instruction, interactive discussion, and group assignments, attendees will receive a comprehensive toolbox of information and practical tools in several key knowledge areas, including:
- Marine transportation security regulations and their origin
- Canadian marine transportation security structure
- Transport Canada’s Marine Transportation Security Regulations
- Risk assessments
- Security plan development and implementation
- Security training, drills, and exercises
- Security incident response

Attendees will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.

About the Instructor - Brian Pitman, M.O.M.
Brian is a dynamic and well-respected security professional with over 37 years of diverse law enforcement and security industry experience.

Brian began his career with 33 years at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), where he worked extensively in the port policing environment. In that capacity, he developed port policing investigative teams in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, contributed to the development of the Marine Security Operations Centre in Esquimalt, BC, and was a member of the 2010 Olympic Interdepartmental Marine Security Steering Committee. Brian was commissioned as the Inspector-in-Charge for Ports Policing for the RCMP (2006) in British Columbia and served as Acting Operations Superintendent for the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (2012).

From 2012 to 2017, Brian held the role of Port Security Officer in his position as Manager, Security, Safety & Emergency Management for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. In this role, Brian was responsible for leading and overseeing a variety of programs to ensure the safe, secure and efficient movement of transportation, goods and passengers through Canada’s largest port.

Brian has contributed his law enforcement and marine security expertise to Transport Canada, through his participation on the National Port Security Committee and Port Security Sub-Committee of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities. Brian was invested as a Member in the Order of Merit (M.O.M) of the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada in 2007 in recognition of exceptional service, and has been invited to speak on port policing and security issues at various national and international engagements.

Contact: Please reach out to us at admin@silverstraitsolutions.com if you require more information or would like to discuss alternative dates or custom course options for your operations.

Course dates & location
September session: September 16, 2026
8:30am to 4:30pm
BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3H6

Course fee: $950 plus GST (includes course handbook & lunch/refreshments)

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