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[caption id="attachment_215" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Last month, HMCS Algonquin participated in a series of exercises off Southern California with U.S. and Mexican naval assets."][/caption]Story By: Lt(N) Mike Ronaldson, HMCS Algonquin In mid-February, HMCS Algonquin took part in the North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI) exercise off the coast of Southern California and Northern Mexico. NAMSI is an interagency tri-lateral security initiative between the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican maritime commands. The primary goal of the exercise was to test the interoperability and mutual understanding amongst the participating commands. The Feb. 22-23 exercise was conducted to validate the tri-lateral agreement’s standard operating procedures (SOP) used to coordinate the hand over of custody of a suspect vessel from one nation to another. The procedures are designed to facilitate maritime law enforcement as it relates to interdicting vessels suspected of trafficking illicit drugs or other illegal activities prohibited by international law. The exercise was also an opportunity to observe and learn from how the U.S. and Mexico conduct boarding operations. The first day had Algonquin’s boarding team board the U.S. tanker, USNS Henry J. Kaiser, who was playing the role of the merchant vessel Black Pearl, a container ship known to be harboring a person of interest with links to terrorist activity. After obtaining permission from Canadian maritime authorities, Algonquin’s Naval Boarding Party secured the vessel and conducted a search for the potential terrorist. Once the person was located, secured and his identity confirmed, U.S. national authorities were contacted in order to turn over the custody of the vessel to the United States. Shortly after national maritime authorities had completed the requisite paperwork, USCGC Boutwell was seen charging over the horizon in order to take custody of the Black Pearl and the person of interest. Algonquin’s Naval Boarding Party officer and his team conducted a thorough...

[caption id="attachment_211" align="alignright" width="200" caption="The Blue Boat cross-harbour ferry service will cease operations as of April 30, 2012."][/caption]The Blue Boats have satisfied many requirements to transport military members and DND civilian employees across Esquimalt Harbour over the past 50 years. Come the end of April, the venerable vessels will start a new chapter when their most recent role as scheduled shuttles will end. The Auxiliary Fleet responsible for the boats’ operations is currently facing staffing challenges. The section is comprised of qualified ship’s officers, ship’s engineers and Deckhands that operate a range of vessels using a manning pool concept. As personal resources have become more constrained, it has become increasingly challenging for the Auxiliary Fleet to meet all of its operational commitments in addition to providing the cross-harbour service. By the end of April, given scheduling, leave, medical and all the other demands placed on personnel, it simply was not going to be acceptable to continue with the cross-harbour service while not having critically important Tugs and Barges available for operational support. The primary task for the Blue Boats has been to connect Defence properties and organizations along the harbour in order to facilitate the performance of official duties. In recent years, an increasing number of people living in Colwood and the West Shore have availed themselves of the service to shorten or improve their travel to and from work. This was not a mandate of the Blue Boats but was perceived as such given the number of people who took advantage of this extra-capacity during commuting hours. Capt(N) Craig Baines, Base Commander of CFB Esquimalt, says while he is certainly sympathetic that the change will impact the 300 to 400 daily commuters that catch the Blue Boat each day, the Auxiliary Fleet have nevertheless exhausted their ability to both...

[caption id="attachment_208" align="alignright" width="200" caption="RAdm Nigel Greenwood, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, and Cdr David Mazur, Commanding Officer of HMCS Vancouver, are joined by Darren Parker, Royals’ Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, at centre ice for the puck drop."][/caption]Story By: Base Public Affairs A week ago, the largest arena in Victoria was brimming with hockey fans, including a large contingent from CFB Esquimalt. Military members were the special guests of the Victoria Royals, the city’s Western Hockey League team, during their March 3 game against the Vancouver Giants at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Front and centre in the military appreciation night were sailors from HMCS Vancouver, freshly back from seven months in the Mediterranean enforcing United Nation’s imposed arms embargo against Libya. The Royals also donated more than 150 free tickets, which were given to deserving personnel from the Formation, and discounted general tickets for CF members and their families. As hockey fans arrived at the Memorial Centre, they were able to check out the Fleet Dive Unit bomb disposal truck and see the bomb disposal robot in action. They also received a CF promotional item as a souvenir of the evening. The pre-game show was all about the Canadian Forces. Vancouver crew members formed the Flag Party on the ice while the Naden Band performed the national anthem. At the conclusion of ‘Oh Canada”, a locally produced DND video highlighting all three elements of the CF played on the megatron screens as announcer Cliff Lequesne talked about the work done by the CF. To the delight and surprise of the crowd, three search and rescue technicians from 442 Squadron Comox, hiding in the rafters, repelled down to the ice to hand deliver the ceremonial puck to Marty the Marmot. “It is very special to rappel from the roof and land...