Operations

Two Kingston-class Ships to Deploy to Haiti

Cyndi Mills - Owner | Publisher CMF Magazine February 17, 2023

0 3 minutes read

Above image: HMCS Moncton sails the Atlantic Ocean during Operation Projection on January 27, 2022. Please by: Corporal Jaclyn Buell, Canadian Armed Forces photo.

With the situation deteriorating in Haiti, the Canadian Government announced two Kingston-class ships will deploy to Haiti in response to the worsening political, security, and humanitarian crisis.

HMCS Glace Bay sails through the Maniitsoq Fjord during Operation NANOOK 2020 on August 14, 2020.

His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Glace Bay and Moncton, are deploying to Haiti in response to a request from Haiti for assistance as violence continues to escalate in the country. The Royal Canadian Air Force has also provided intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, plus Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected are being delivered to Haiti.

Supporting Haitian People

The ships, with a combined company of over 90 Royal Canadian Navy sailors, will conduct presence patrols in and around Haitian waters in the coming weeks, focusing on the waters in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince.

“Canada is committed to supporting the Haitian people, who are striving for a peaceful and more prosperous future. By transporting Haitian-purchased armoured vehicles, conducting patrol aircraft overflights, and now, deploying Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, we will continue to step up with important contributions to Haiti’s security. We will continue to support Haitian-led efforts to build stability, and we thank our Royal Canadian Navy sailors for their contributions to this mission,” stated Anita Anand, minister of national defence.

Lieutenant Stephen Lamarche speaks with boarding party members from ITS (Italian Ship) Luigi Rizzo aboard HMCS MONCTON as part of OBANGAME EXPRESS during Operation PROJECTION, off the coast of West Africa on March 14, 2022. Photo by: Corporal Jaclyn Buell, Canadian Armed Forces photo.

Operational Change

HMCS Glace Bay and Moncton deployed in mid-January on Operation Projection in West Africa. They have been building security relationships and capacity with nations in the Gulf of Guinea. The ships and crew are expected to arrive in Haitian waters in the coming weeks and remain in the region for a number of weeks.

“Once in place in the waters surrounding Haiti, HMCS Moncton and HMCS Glace Bay will operate under Operation Globe,” said Public Affairs Officer Captain Nicolas Plourde-Fleury.

Taking place in maritime environments around the world, Operation Projection aims to improve peace and stability. The operational shift is due to the difference in mission mandates. CAF members deploy on Operation Globe when they are asked to help other Canadian government departments with various tasks that involve working outside of Canada.

HMCS Glace Bay and Moncton’s deployment to the region will contribute to Canada’s maritime situational awareness. As well they will seek to bolster efforts to establish and maintain peace and security for the people of Haiti.

Regarding the operational change, Plourde-Fleury noted, at this time, the military does not anticipate the deployment to be extended

“They should arrive back to their home port of Halifax at the anticipated time.”

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

Along with the ships deploying, in the coming days, the Canadian Armed Forces will also deliver to Haiti an additional three Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armoured vehicles purchased by the Haitian government.

The press release noted, “the vehicles will support the Haitian National Police’s efforts to combat gang violence. This will be the third such delivery in less than six months.”

An aircraft technician from Air Task Force – Iraq (ATF-I) marshals a CP-140 Aurora aircraft during Operation IMPACT on January 4, 2017. Photo: Op Impact, DND

Royal Canadian Air Force

Also, earlier this month, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft conducted two overflights in support of Canada’s efforts to disrupt the activities of gangs in Haiti, noted the press release.

“The Canadian patrol aircraft provided intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability to bolster efforts to establish and maintain peace and security for the people of Haiti,” stated the press release.

HMCS Moncton sails the Atlantic Ocean during Operation PROJECTION on January 27, 2022. Photo by: Corporal Jaclyn Buell, Canadian Armed Forces photo.

Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels

The Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) are multi-role vessels with a primary mission of coastal surveillance and patrol.

“Security assistance is one of four pillars of Canada’s whole of government response to the crisis in Haiti, which also includes diplomacy, sanctions, and humanitarian and development assistance,” stated the press release.

In an effort to support stability, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada had imposed additional sanctions against two Haitian elites who provide financial or operational support to gangs and are inflicting violence on the Haitian people.