Five days. The whole port.
Operating since 2010, the CPE program covers the rapidly changing regulations and operations that affect seaports, marine terminals, vessels, and intermodal providers across the Americas and the Caribbean.
“Operating since 2010 — ~1,000 alumni across 14+ countries lead port authorities, marine terminal operators, and government agencies across the Americas and the Caribbean.”
— CPE Program data, 2026
The right fit — and the honest exceptions.
CPE is a senior credential. The clearest way to know if it’s right for you is to look at both sides.
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Port Authorities
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Marine Terminal Operators
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Third-Party Logistics (3PLs)
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Rail Companies
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Vessel Operators
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Government officials at the state, provincial, and federal level
- See the full curriculum →
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Brand-new entry-level operations staff — a foundation-level port-ops certificate is a better starting point
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Professionals seeking individual-contributor credentials (PMP, APICS, etc.) — CPE is executive-level and organisation-wide
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Pure deep-sea shipping line operations — the curriculum covers this sector, but it is not the primary focus
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Dockyard and marine engineering credentials — CPE covers the business and leadership side of the port, not the technical engineering side
What the CEU credits translate to.
CPE awards 4.0 Continuing Education Units (40 contact hours) on completion — structured learning recognized by accreditation bodies and organizational CPD programs.
Program completion
4.0 CEU credits — 40 hours of structured learning across 5 days, in line with IACET and equivalent accreditation body standards
Organizational CPD equivalency
Typically satisfies a two-year CPD obligation (2 days/year) in one intensive session — depending on your employer's CPD policy
Maritime sector recognition
Accepted by major port authorities across the Americas and Caribbean for executive-track promotion and professional development records
Continuing professional development
Documentation issued on completion — suitable for submission to professional licensing bodies and organizational HR/L&D systems
5
Intensive days
18
Core modules
~1k
Alumni since 2010
CEU
Accredited credit
The entire business of an operating port. In five days.
From the marine transport system to strategic planning, the curriculum spans every discipline a port professional touches.
Marine transport system and logistics chain
Port governance and authorities
Vessel types, cargo classification, and industry terminology
Port and terminal management structures
Roles of port professionals across all functions
Communications, media, and administration
Emerging regulations and compliance obligations
Risk, threat management, and security planning
Cargo storage, handling, and intermodal operations
Harbour geography and navigation aids
Strategic, master, and business planning
Trends, automation, AI and climate change
Structured around how ports actually work.
Five days, eighteen modules, organized from the foundations of the industry to the forces reshaping it over the next decade.
The Port Industry
Establish the operating vocabulary and governance framework that every port professional needs — the global transport system, how ports are structured and owned, the language of the industry, and how marine terminals are classified and run.
- M.01The Worldwide Transportation System
- M.02The International Port Industry
- M.03Language of the Industry
- M.04Port Governance and Management
- M.05The Marine Terminal
Operations & Commerce
The physical port and the commercial reality behind it: how cargo moves from vessel to gate, how terminals are operated, how transportation is priced, and the legal framework governing every transaction.
- M.01The Harbour and the Vessel Voyage
- M.02Marine Terminal Operations
- M.03Cargo Management
- M.04Transportation Pricing
- M.05Regulatory Requirements and Legal Issues
Regulation & Business
The regulatory and commercial environment: tariff structures as implied contracts, safety and security obligations under MTSA/MTSR, and the marketing and business development disciplines that drive port competitiveness.
- M.01Tariffs, Terminal Regulations and Operating Plans
- M.02Safety, Security and Emergency Planning and Response
- M.03Business Development, Marketing, and Commercial Operations
Management & Administration
The executive disciplines: managing port infrastructure and real property, understanding port finance and labour as the largest cost driver, navigating public and media relations, and building the strategic and master plans that guide port development.
- M.01Property, Facility and Infrastructure Management
- M.02Administration and Finance
- M.03Public and Media Relations
- M.04Strategic and Master Planning
The Next Decade
Industry trends, automation, and the climate-driven changes reshaping ports across the Americas and the Caribbean — followed by a practical exercise and evaluation, and the awarding of the Certified Port Executive™ certificate.
- M.01Trends, Automation, AI, and Climate Change
- M.02Practical Exercise and Evaluation
- M.03Awarding of Certificates
Built for every professional who touches a seaport.
Participants are managers, directors, vice presidents, CEOs, harbour masters, terminal managers, security leaders, government officials, and supply-chain executives.
Port Authorities
Marine Terminal Operators
Third-Party Logistics (3PLs)
Rail Companies
Vessel Operators
Importers & Exporters
Intermodal Transport Companies
Dockyard, Navy & Military Personnel
Coast Guard Officials
Government Officials (State, Provincial, Federal)
Maritime Lawyers
Consulting Engineers
What you leave with
Enhanced management skills
Real-world port and terminal knowledge applicable the Monday after you complete the program.
Tools to advance your career
A credential recognized at every major port across the Americas and the Caribbean, with the designation Certified Port Executive™.
A global professional network
~1,000 alumni across 14+ countries — the cohort you train with becomes a career-long network.
CEU documentation
Continuing Education Unit credits issued on completion, suitable for professional licensing bodies and organizational CPD programs.
Annual update access
Access to the annual CPE conference, which keeps alumni current on regulatory changes and industry developments.
The Certified Port Executive™ certificate
Awarded on Day 5. A registered trademark of MacDonnell Group, recognized across the Americas and the Caribbean.
Go deeper on the credential.
What is a Certified Port Executive?
The definitional industry primer — credential, curriculum, career path explained for anyone considering CPE.
Read the primer →Port management career path
From entry roles to the CEO chair — how port careers actually progress, and where CPE fits at the mid-career transition.
Read the career guide →Maritime certifications compared
How CPE compares to MTSA, PMP, harbour master licensing, and maritime MBAs — when each is the right fit.
Read the comparison →Five days. The whole port.
Eight cohorts in 2026. Zoom and in-person. Same curriculum, same certificate, same network.