USS Jackson (LCS 6) made its way through the Panama Canal during her maiden voyage, September 6.

Jackson, the third ship in the Independence-variant littoral combat ship, departed Mayport, Fla. after having completed shock trials early and successfully. Making a brief refueling stop at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the ship continued on their journey to their future homeport in San Diego.

The Panama Canal opened in 1914 and serves as a passage way between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For ships able to transverse the canal, it saves them an 8000 mile journey around South America.

To get through the canal, Jackson had to go through a series of three locks, Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores, which raised the ship up to 85 feet above sea level and 44.5 miles in length to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Isthmus of Panama.

This was the first time through the canal for many of the crew, including the Commanding Officer Cmdr. Troy Fendrick.

"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Fendrick. "It was a great experience for the crew. Something that they'll look back on in their careers with an appreciation of the magnitude of what it took to not only build the Panama Canal over a hundred years ago but to still be functioning today to support what it is we do."

"Honestly it was very emotional for me," stated Boatswain Mate 2nd Class Rafael Jarmillo. "Being from Panama, coming through the canal was a really unique experience, as it was like a homecoming for me because it was the first time coming here since I was sixteen."

Jarmillo said he was looking forward to reuniting with his family and friends during Jackson's three day port visit in Balboa, Panama.

The canal locks are 110 feet wide and Jackson is 104 feet wide, leaving only three feet on each side of the ship between her and the walls. Lines connect the ship to diesel electric tractors, also known as mules, named for the animals that originally assisted in towing, to help navigate the ship through the various locks.

"It was challenging, but it was an evolution that I think needs to have lessons learned developed in order to ensure that future littoral combat ships variants that transit the canal have a little less challenging evolution," remarked Fendrick.

Fendrick continued to say that ships need to engage more with the Panamanian canal pilots that board the ship and help with the navigation.

"The pilot we had available was very good and he was willing to try and make the process of transiting these kinds of ships through better," added Fendrick. "We did things differently than have been done in the past because the pilot seemed to have researched the ship a little bit more. He came prepared and with the understanding of the issue the two previous variants had and came with a plan to alleviate those issues."

Overall the ship made it through the canal with only a few teflon marks to show for its evolution.

"Jackson is performing spectacularly," stated Fendrick. "I think it is a testament of just what this ship is capable of; to go from shock trials to transiting the Atlantic at 19 knots and the ship not missing a beat."

After passing through the canal, Jackson will make a port call in Balboa to give the crew a chance to see Panama and for a community relations project with a local school.

"The crew has done tremendous work to get us where we are," said Fendrick. "Through previous evolutions including shock trials and post-shock in order to transit to San Diego essentially two months early. It's nice to let them know our appreciation of their efforts with some liberty time in port."

"Not a lot of ships get a chance to cross the canal," added Jarmillo. "Just take it in, even when you're working, take it in as an experience because sometime down the line you'll always remember."


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