OTTAWA - The Government of Canada announced that Her Majesty’s Canadian
Ship (HMCS) Regina arrived in the Arabian Sea to join the multinational
coalition fleet conducting maritime security operations in the region.
For more information about HMCS Regina and HMCS Charlottetown, please visit the ships' pages on the Royal Canadian Navy website at: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/cms/8/8_eng.asp?category=51
HMCS Regina will replace HMCS Charlottetown, which has been in the
region since April.
“HMCS Regina’s deployment continues our strong tradition of
participation in overseas operations with our allies, while making
meaningful contributions to international security and stability,” said
Minister MacKay. "Each day, Canadians use goods and services that have
been influenced by maritime trade. Canada’s contribution to maritime
security and counter- terrorism operations plays a key role in the
prosperity of our country.”
HMCS Regina left her home port of Esquimalt, B.C., on July 3 to replace
HMCS Charlottetown on Operation Artemis, Canada’s contribution to
Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), the multinational flotilla conducting
counter-terrorism operations in the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the
Gulf of Oman, and the Indian Ocean. HMCS Charlottetown is heading home
after a deployment of more than seven months.
Notably during her deployment, HMCS Charlottetown disrupted the exchange
of illicit cargo between a dhow – a larger fishing-type vessel – and a
smaller skiff in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Yemen on May 5, 2012.
HMCS Charlottetown’s actions resulted in the seizure and disposal of 600
pounds of hashish.
“The captain and crew of HMCS Charlottetown have done an exceptional
job,” said Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, commander of Canadian
Expeditionary Force Command. “Charlottetown’s presence in both the
Mediterranean and Arabian seas has demonstrated Canada’s commitment to
peace and security in the region.”
After about three months on Operation Active Endeavour, HMCS
Charlottetown was re-tasked to the Arabian Sea region to join CTF-150,
with which she has operated since April 22. Charlottetown is expected to
reach Halifax in mid-September. Canada has contributed warships to
CTF-150 since its inception. Most recently, HMCS Fredericton served with
CTF-150 from October 2009 to April 2010. Of note, the task force was
headed by a Canadian in 2008, when then-Commodore, Bob Davidson,
commanded CTF-150 for four months from HMCS Iroquois.
HMCS Regina is a Halifax-class frigate with a crew of roughly 240
sailors, including an air detachment equipped with a CH-124 Sea King
helicopter and a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle.For more information about HMCS Regina and HMCS Charlottetown, please visit the ships' pages on the Royal Canadian Navy website at: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/cms/8/8_eng.asp?category=51
No comments:
Post a Comment