HMCS Ottawa left CFB Esquimalt this week for a six-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region that will last into March.
The ship will be part of Operation Horizon to promote stability and order in the region and Operation Neon — Canada’s contribution to a multinational effort supporting United Nations sanctions against North Korea.
The sanctions were adopted to pressure North Korea into abandoning weapons of mass destruction, and as a response to the country’s weapon tests and ballistic-missile launches.
Ottawa will also be part of military-training exercises with other countries
“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,” said Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. “I know that they are up to the challenge.”
The mission has been months in the making, said Commander Adriano Lozer, commanding officer of Ottawa.
“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.”
Ottawa has a crew of about 240 and is carrying a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter that specializes in anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
