The Panama Canal is critical to the free flow of trade in the region and the entire world.  The region's economy and political stability largely depend on the safe transport of several hundred million tons of cargo through the Canal each year, and PANAMAX 2011 is designed to ensure plans are in place to respond to requests from the Government of Panama and also Colombia for this year’s iteration. PANAMAX has evolved over many years and now includes training for the constantly evolving nature of new threats in today’s security environment.

While the overarching goal was to develop and test command & control of forces at sea, training in this exercise addressed the spectrum of maritime, air, land, space, and cyber operations.  Specifically, there were scenarios addressing visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS), Entry Control Point training, littoral operations, open water diving operations, counter drug interdictions and simulated riverine operations.  

Representatives from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the United States participated in exercise PANAMAX 2011 from August 15-26, 2011, in Panama and other locations in the United States. 

Participating in this year’s PANAMAX from the United States were staff elements from SOUTHCOM, U.S. Army South, U.S. Marine Forces South, Special Operations Command South, USS Thach (FFG 43), USCGC Bear (WMEC-901), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Explosive Ordinance Disposal Operational Support Unit (EODOSU) 10 Detachment OCD, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Four (MSRON 4), Riverine Group One (RIVGRU 1), U.S. 2nd Fleet, and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet.