Boaters around Panama City have grown accustomed to US Navy operations off their coast. This series of tests will be northwest of the entrance channel into St. Andrews Bay.

FL – GULF OF MEXICO – PANAMA CITY – Naval OperationsThe U.S. Navy will be conducting surface and subsurface testing with an unmanned underwater vehicle deploying acoustic nodes for communication in St. Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Testing will continue through October 27, 2017, during daylight hours only. All items deployed will be recovered daily. Continuing through October 20, 2017, testing will be conducted in the vicinity of St. Andrew Bay between Panama City Marina and approximate position 30-08-06.8N 085-41-26.5W (30°8.1132N / 085°41.4414W, 30.13522 / -85.69069). Mariners are requested to maintain a safe distance from surface craft and the unmanned underwater vehicle. Commencing October 23, 2017 until October 27, 2017, testing will be conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, in approximate position 30-07-46.6N 085-48-00.5W (30°7.7766N / 085°48.0084W, 30.12961 / -85.80014). Mariners are requested to maintain a 1 nautical mile perimeter of the test field. The U.S. Navy Support Vessels will monitor VHF-FM Channel 16. For up-to-date information, mariners can contact the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile, at (251)441-5976. Chart 11360 LNM 42/17 Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of TestingClick Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Andrews Marina Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Andrews MarinaClick Here To View the Northern Gulf Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Panama City MarinaClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Panama City Marina