Canadian warship embarks on Pacific coast patrol

Royal Canadian Navy’s Kingston-class coastal defense vessel HMCS Whitehorse departed its home port of Esquimalt June 27 to conduct maritime security patrols along Canada’s Pacific coast throughout the month of July.

During its deployment, which will consist of sovereignty and presence patrols, HMCS Whitehorse will also visit several ports along the west coast of British Columbia and on Vancouver Island.

Royal Canadian Navy’s maritime security patrols fall under Operation LIMPID which is the routine domestic surveillance of Canadian air, maritime, land, space, and cyber domains as well as presence in Canada’s aerial, maritime and land approaches.

“Maritime security patrols are a primary role performed by your Kingston-Class ships in ensuring the protection and security of Canadians while also allowing for your warships and sailors to visit our coastal communities. These patrols are also essential tools to keep your Pacific sailors ‘Ready Aye Ready’ as they provide a range of diverse training opportunities,” Captain (N) J. Clarke, Commander Maritime Operations Group Four.

HMCS Whitehorse is one of six Kingston-class warships based at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. Crewed by both regular and reserve force sailors, the Kingston-class are multi-role minor war vessels with a primary mission of coastal surveillance and sovereignty patrols and a secondary mission of general naval and search and rescue operations.