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Navy EOD Divers Conduct Force Protection, Countermeasure Evolution at PANAMAX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050817-01
Release Date: 8/17/2005 10:10:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Jennifer Franco, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

PANAMA CITY, Panama (NNS) -- Divers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 10 partnered with divers from Panama’s National Maritime Services (SMN) to work on and observe force protection and mine countermeasures as part of a scenario-driven exercise at FUERZAS ALIADAS PANAMAX 2005 in Panama City, Panama, Aug. 4-17.

Navy and SMN divers worked together to practice measures that could be taken in the event the Panama Canal is threatened. The cooperative, hands-on experience also offered an opportunity to share different techniques used to identify and remove mines.

“We worked with Panamanian divers to search for mines attached to the bottom of ships and hulls of ships,” said EODMU 10 Command Master Chief, CMDCM (EOD/AW/SW) Richard Graves.

“We are learning a lot by working with foreign forces,” said Panamanian SMN diver Ensign Carlos Isaza. “We are learning how to surge and coordinate force protection.”

Isaza also noted that observing each other’s underwater security capabilities will aid in mitigating potential threats to the Canal.

During the week, the divers observed and practiced techniques to identify shapes on the bottom of small boats. The bilateral cooperation then turned to addressing force protection for a protected areas during times of heightened security.

“The exercise in force protection helped [divers] learn how to search for mines and go through procedures that would be implemented if there was an actual threat to the Canal,” said Graves.

EODMU 10 is comprised of 20 Reservists and six active-duty support staff. PANAMAX allowed EODMU 10’s service members to test their own skills in specific force protection and mine countermeasure techniques.

“This exercise was beneficial because it needs to be constantly revised to be prepared for contingencies and to avoid confusion,” said Graves.

PANAMAX is a multinational exercise conducted in Panama designed to coordinate a layered defense strategy for the Panama Canal. PANAMAX 2005 involves 15 countries, incorporating naval and coastal security forces from host nation Panama, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Peru and the United States, along with observers from Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Mexico and Uruguay. PANAMAX offered both training and scenario-driven surface, air and mine countermeasures and special-operations events involving detection, monitoring and interdiction of vessels.