USS Boone Transits Through Panama Canal

Along with narrowed passageway and shoal water surrounding the ship, there were approximately 40 vessels that pass through the Canal per day. Ninety years after its opening, the Canal continues to be a vital link in world trade carrying more cargo than ever. The maximum capacity of the canal is approximately 80 million tons per year.

Lt.j.g. Andrew Thompson was the conning officer, responsible for the safe maneuvering of the ship, for the first half of the transit.

"This was my first major conning evolution, and I was naturally nervous; under the direction of the Panamanian pilot and Cmdr. Newman Evans [Boone's Commanding Officer,] I was able to understand the ranges, bearings, and channel markers that all came together and guided us down the narrow passageway."

Every vessel that transits the Canal anchors outside of the channel and awaits their turn for the approach towards the Canal. A standard passage through the Canal takes approximately nine hours. With a Panamanian pilot onboard, the ship maneuvers through the channel and slows before entering one of three sets of locks. Fire Controlman 2nd Class Adam Yetter described the canal as "hot and humid, but both an incredible and unique experience."

The canal consists of artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks. At the entrance of each lock a crew of Panamanian line handlers cast their lines down to small row boats. These row boats took the lines to miniature locomotives on tracks along the walls of the lock. These locomotives held the lines and pull the ship in and out of the lock. Once the ship reached the approved level of the next lock, a wide steel door opened in front of bow, and released the ship to maneuver further down the channel towards the next lock.

Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice Anthony Banaszeck said "It's exciting that we finally get to carry out the mission that we have been training for many months."

Boone, homeported in Mayport, Fla., deployed April 5 under U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command to conduct counter illicit trafficking in the Eastern Pacific for Joint Interagency Task Force South.