This week, a Royal Canadian Navy Ship is returning to port in Esquimalt from its over six-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific regions.
His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver will be returning on December 5th, after a total of 184 days at sea.
The Royal Canadian Navy says this homecoming will see nearly 240 sailors and aircrew arriving in Esquimalt to be greeted by friends, family and naval officers, who will be awaiting them on the jetty.
HMCS Vancouver was one of three ships deployed as part of ‘Operation HORIZON.’
According to the Canadian government, this operation was aimed at reinforcing Canada’s commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, promoting peace, stability and the rules-based international order.
Through Operation HORIZON, members of the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Special Operations Forces partook in international training, exercises and engagements to enhance security, and build defence partnerships with other nations.
The Canadian Government says that as a Pacific nation, and building diplomatic, trade, development, and defence ties has increased consistent and meaningful participation in the region.
The HMCS Vancouver was built in 1989, and originally designed to specialize in anti-submarine warfare.
Over the years, this vessel has taken part in operations regarding the war in Iraq, the Libyan civil war and anti-contraband missions in the Arabian Sea, before being tasked with ongoing missions in the Indo-Pacific regions.
