HMCS Nanaimo Celebrates Achievement in Arctic

While OP NANOOK 2015 has been done now for nearly a month, one of the Royal Canadian Navy ships that took part deserves a Kudos! shout out.

The HMCS Nanaimo made the 3,875 nautical mile journey from its home port of CFB Esquimalt to Nunavut. In doing so, Nanaimo became the first RCN West Coast vessel to sail past the Arctic Circle since 1949; and also became the first RCN vessel to sail in all three territorial Oceans during its seven week deployment.

HMCS Nanaimo sailing off the coast of California; part of RIMPAC Exercise 2014. Photo: US Navy 

Nanaimo worked with the US Coast Guard in a number of training activities, and also visited several northern communities along its route. Most notably, it visited the village of Ulukhaktok for a Community Day - and hosted 90 locals on board the ship; nearly 20% of the local population. This visit marked the farthest east any Canadian Pacific fleet ship has ever deployed in the Arctic.

So a huge Kudos to the crew of HMCS Nanaimo for their exceptional journey from Coast to Coast - Literally!

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.