Book excerpt: Maritime security is a major challenge for the international community that cuts across a broad spectrum of scholarly disciplines and maritime operation. This volume provides in-depth analysis of current international and regional approaches to maritime security, cargo, port and supply chain security, maritime information sharing and capacity building. The work describes measures in place at multilateral and regional levels to improve information sharing and operational coordination regarding security threats to shipping, offshore installations and port facilities. Several chapters address measures aimed at reducing acts of piracy and armed robbery against shipping at sea. This edited volume contains articles by government officials, senior naval and coast guard commanders as well as by leading jurists and academics. One unique feature of this volume is that many of the contributions are by operational commanders with first–hand experience of the practical law enforcement problems involved in minimizing disruption to legitimate trade and business. This collection will appeal to all concerned with maritime security and the protection of vital international trade by sea. The CD accompanying the volume includes important documents such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well many PowerPoint presentations from the thirty-first annual Virginia conference held in Heidelberg, Germany, May 24-26, 2007.