Port Manatee, situated at the entrance to Tampa Bay just beyond the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, is considered to be the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal. Eight million tons of cargo are handled annually long its 1.5 miles of berthing for vessels, which exports cargoes of mostly orange juice and fertilizer. Most are unaware, however, that Port Manatee is quickly becoming a center for maritime security training.