Canadian warships depart for coastal operations and training exercises in the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes

.

Canadian warships depart for coastal operations and training exercises in the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes

NR - 13.193 - June 12, 2013
OTTAWA – Her Majesty’s Canadian (HMC) Ships Glace Bay and Kingston departed Halifax today to conduct a seven-week period of coastal operations and training exercises until the end of July. As part of their deployment, these two Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, and the Naval Reservists who crew them, will visit various ports of call along the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, providing Canadians with opportunities to tour the warships and interact with their crews.
“Our sailors look forward to strengthening longstanding relationships with Canadians, while highlighting exciting employment opportunities in the Naval Reserves,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “These port visits will highlight the unique contributions made by Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels and Naval Reservists to Canada’s maritime security and sovereignty.”
“The Naval Reserve generates trained personnel and crews for Canadian Armed Forces operations and exercises such as domestic safety operations, as well as security and defence missions at home and abroad,” said Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. “At the same time, they support the Royal Canadian Navy's efforts to connect with Canadians from coast to coast through the maintenance of a broad national presence of 24 Naval Reserve Divisions across Canada.”
In between port visits, HMC Ships Glace Bay and Kingston will conduct various coastal operations and training exercises to maintain operational readiness to deploy on joint operations at home and abroad. This tour will also provide opportunities to inform and educate Canadians about how the Naval Reserve contributes to the protection and security of our maritime waters and approaches by working with our allies and other government partners in maritime security.
HMC Ships Glace Bay and Kingston will sail from Halifax through the St. Lawrence Seaway starting today and returning to Halifax at the end of July.  During the tour, Glace Bay and Kingston will visit the following ports of call:

• Sydney, Nova Scotia, June 14-17;
• Chicoutimi, Québec, June 20-23;
• Toronto, Ontario, June 28 - July 2;
• Oshawa, Ontario, July 5-8;
• Port Colborne, Ontario, July 12-14; and
• Kingston, Ontario, July 12-15.

HMC Ships Glace Bay and Kingston are based out of Canadian Forces Base Halifax and are two of twelve Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels in the Royal Canadian Navy. These versatile multi-role warships are crewed primarily by Naval Reservists and are used in a variety of missions including coastal surveillance, mine counter-measures, ocean-floor mapping, among others. HMC Ships Glace Bay and Kingston have participated in a number of exercises and operations including their most recent participation in the campaign against illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean as part of Operation Caribbe in 2012.

.

.

.