HMCS Saskatoon and Yellowknife begin coastal patrols off B.C.

The Royal Canadian Navy announced this afternoon that HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Yellowknife have departed CFB Esquimalt earlier this week for coastal patrols off the coast of B.C.

These operations will last until Mid-June according to DND. The operation will have several surveillance portions and coastal port visits.

Navy's Kingston-Class Vessels getting new Nav. Systems

The Royal Canadian Navy confirmed today that it's twelve Kingston-Class coastal defence vessels will be getting new navigation systems, in a contract awarded to SNC-Lavalin Defence Programs.

The new upgrades will include new gyrocompass systems, heading management systems, and a complete suite of heading repeaters according to Northrop Grumman's news release who will work with SNC-Lavalin.

Six of the vessels will be upgraded in Esquimalt, BC while the other six will be upgraded in Dartmouth, NS, where field tests will begin this summer.

HMCS Glace Bay (inner) and HMCS Shawinigan (outer) refuel in Hamilton, Ontario during refueling. 

HMCS Athabaskan to deploy to Op CARIBBE

DND announced today that HMCS Athabaskan left Halifax, Nova Scotia today deploy to Op CARIBBE - as part of Canada's contribution to the multinational campaign against trafficking and crime in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

This deployment marks the sixth Royal Canadian Navy Ship to deploy on Op CARIBBE in 2015, and the third from the Atlantic Fleet.

HMCS Athabaskan will also participate in the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans, commemorating the final battle of the War of 1812 during the week long planned celebrations in New Orleans.

HMCS Athabaskan was previously deployed on Op CARIBBE in the fall of 2014, and assisted in the seizing of 820 kg of cocaine.

HMCS Athabaskan is replacing HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Nanaimo which returned yesterday to Esquimalt, Britich Columbia.