CMFMAG TeamAbove left image: team members from the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre were on hand as HMCS Ottawa set sail to the Indo-Pacific region.
The crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa bid farewell to their families and loved ones at a departure ceremony held at HMCS Dockyard Esquimalt, British Columbia.
HMCS Ottawa set sail across the Pacific Ocean on Oct. 16, 2024, deploying on Operations HORIZON and NEON. Operation HORIZON is Canada’s forward-presence mission to the Indo-Pacific region to promote peace, stability, and the rules-based international order. Operation NEON is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations sanctions imposed against North Korea.
Second Ship to Deploy
“The departure of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Ottawa, the second ship from the West Coast to deploy on Operation HORIZON this year, represents the culmination of thousands of hours of collective effort and dedication from the ship’s company and supporting staff ashore,” stated Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. “This deployment to the Indo-Pacific region will see the ship and its crew sail with our allies and partners in the region and take on critical tasks and missions. I know that they are up to the challenge. Fair winds and following seas to HMCS Ottawa, I wish you all a safe and successful mission.”
During this deployment, the admiral explained that the HMCS Ottawa will maintain Canada’s naval presence in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating the nation’s contribution to regional peace and stability, as well as commitment to international security.
Showcase Operational Capabilities
“The crew of HMCS Ottawa will showcase the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) operational capabilities while working alongside international allies and partner navies during military training exercises, highlighting Canada’s commitment to international collaboration and fostering military and diplomatic partnerships,” stated the press release.
Commander Adriano Lozer, CO of HMCS Ottawa, said today’s departure had been months in the making.
“Ottawa’s crew has worked hard to get our ship ready for Operations HORIZON and NEON where we will represent Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy well throughout our mission across the Indo-Pacific. This deployment would not be possible without the incredible support of our families who serve with us, and without them we would not have been able to get to this moment.”
Halifax-class Canadian Patrol Frigate
He said the series of UN sanctions, adopted between 2006 and 2017, aims to pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and respond to North Korean nuclear weapon tests and ballistic missile launches.
HMCS Ottawa, a Halifax-class Canadian Patrol Frigate, has a crew of approximately 240 members comprised of RCN sailors and Royal Canadian Air Force aviators.
One CH-148 Cyclone helicopter detachment is embarked onboard HMCS Ottawa. This helicopter detachment specializes in anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and search and rescue operations.
