Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships – Out and About

By Dr. Ann Griffiths, 30 January 2025

There has been much criticism – some of it written by me – about the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships. I still think that the ships are not what the navy needs, but I won’t argue the point here. It’s good to see that the ships are getting out and about. The ships have put on a few miles -- let me note a few examples, the historic transit of the Northwest Passage a few years ago, participation in RIMPAC 2024, a transit through the Welland Canal (see an account of this historic first trip in the winter issue of CNR) and participation in Op Caribbe. (HMCS Harry DeWolf departed Halifax on 26 January to participate in Op Caribbe.) In another first for the ships, HMCS Margaret Brooke, which left Halifax a few weeks ago, is now participating in Op Projection – South America. According to the RCN, Margaret Brooke’s travels will include the first circumnavigation of South America and visit to Antarctica by a Royal Canadian Navy vessel. The ship will visit ports along the coast of South America to do a little naval diplomacy and (hopefully) strengthen relationships in the region. While in Antarctica, the ship will support Canadian scientific research as it hosts a team of government scientists on board. If people joined the navy to see the world, their dream may come true; but if they wanted to see the world on a warship, that’ll have to wait a bit longer.  

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