The guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) arrived in Panama City, Panama, for PANAMAX 2011, a multinational exercise focusing on the defense of the Panama Canal.
The guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) arrived in Panama City, Panama, for PANAMAX 2011, a multinational exercise focusing on the defense of the Panama Canal.
Thach is participating with forces from 17 nations in live and simulated scenarios conducted in the region surrounding Panama, including visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS), littoral operations, counterdrug interdictions and simulated riverine operations.
“During PANAMAX, Thach will operate as part of the Pacific Task Force, a multinational force that will provide maritime domain awareness in the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal,” said Cmdr. Jeff Scudder, Thach commanding officer. “Maintaining awareness of the maritime commons and the VBSS missions will ensure the exercise’s opposing forces are not able to threaten the Panama Canal.”
PANAMAX 2011 officially began Aug. 15 and runs until Aug. 25. The Pacific Task Force, which includes Thach and navy ships from Canada, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, will work together at sea during the two-week exercise.
“The collective defense of the Panama Canal, exercised during PANAMAX, fosters collaboration and interoperability among partner navies and builds trust among the partner nations, which directly contributes to regional security,” said Scudder.
PANAMAX 2011 is an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise that focuses on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal, one of the most strategically and economically crucial pieces of infrastructure in the world. The exercise includes 3,500 personnel and 22 vessels from 17 nations and is conducted off the coasts of Panama and in U.S. locations.
The sea scouts from the city of Cananéia, SP, Brazil follow with great interest the news from the multinational army PANAMAX 2011, with the usual Brazilian Navy participation. We are sure that the unfolding training will reach the desired goals and it will straighten the friendship relations and the interamerican navy cooperation. Success for all the seamen. Ney from Araripe Sucupra Se Scout Master