Defending the Panama Canal

MAYPORT, Fla . – Rear Adm. George Ballance, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and the Navy's 4th Fleet presided over closing ceremonies here Aug. 5 for PANAMAX 2015, a multi-national training exercise focused on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and crucial to the unrestricted flow of global maritime commerce. More than 50 partner-nations participants – from 16 countries - came to Naval Station Mayport to assist with operations and crisis action planning. Forces conducted a series of simulated exercises at Southern Command’s Mayport HQ and within its areas of responsibility. Exercises helped prepare the U.S. and partners with protecting the passage of traffic through the canal, ensure its neutrality, and respect national sovereignty. The exercise was designed to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions. Participants: U.S. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and United Kingdom. (Navy News Service 08/06/16) Gulf Coast Maritime Note: For American seaports on the East and Gulf coasts, the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2016 holds the promise of significant gains in business, some of it long dominated by California. Gulfport, Houston and New Orleans will likely be the major players among Gulf of Mexico ports.