HMCS Summerside to deploy to Arctic

HMCS Summerside departed today from Halifax, N.S. for Canada’s arctic, where she will be joined later in August by HMCS Shawinigan.
This deployment is a part of a 39-day mission north of the 60th
parallel, marking the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) longest uninterrupted
arctic naval presence in recent years.

During the deployment, HMCS Summerside and HMCS Shawiniganwill
participate in Operations QIMMIQ and NANOOK, conducting surveillance
and presence activities, as well as joint training scenarios,
showcasing Canadian Armed Forces assistance to civil emergency
management and law enforcement agencies during threats to public
safety.

Operation NANOOK, the most widely recognized of all the northern
deployments, and Operation QIMMIQ, a year-round persistent surveillance
and presence operation, are directed by Canadian Joint Operations
Command. Other yearly Northern deployments include the springtime
Operation NUNALIVUT in the high Arctic and the summertime Operation
NUNAKPUT in the western Arctic .

“The deployment of maritime coastal defence vessels in Canada’s
northern waters serves as an example of how our Navy demonstrates
sovereignty in the North and, when authorized, assist other government
departments in enforcing national and international law,” said Vice Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the RCN. “The
experience will also help us prepare the stage for more extensive
operations in the ice, to be conducted in the future by our Arctic and
Offshore Patrol Ships, by ironing out some of the logistical and
operating challenges generated by the sheer distances, remoteness, and
generally harsher environmental conditions in the North.”