Canada - US Relations

Canadian Navy leads CAN-US domestic maritime security exercise

ESQUIMALT B.C. – The Canadian Navy and Air Force will join forces with other Canadian government departments and the US Coast Guard in a bi-national domestic exercise designed to further develop coastal surveillance and security of Canada’s Pacific maritime approaches.  Exercise Sea Barrier will take place Feb 22 to 25 in and around the approaches to Esquimalt Harbour and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

“Canada’s National Security Policy directs the Navy to increase its on-water presence and surveillance activities,” says Rear Admiral Jean-Yves Forcier, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific.  “With the size of our coastline and the considerable number of ships that operate in our waters, we need to maximise cooperation and collaboration amongst all the government departments with interests in the sea as well as our American allies to make sure Canadian and international laws around our own shores are respected.”

Marine safety and security require a collaborative effort between numerous Canadian and United States agencies.  Each organization requires an accurate picture of the maritime situation to meet their individual missions.  A primary goal of the Sea Barrier exercise is to foster cooperation and coordination between the Navy and its partners including Transport Canada, the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Coast Guard, and the US Coast Guard to generate a unified and comprehensive recognized maritime picture.  By sharing and comparing information, the Navy and its partners can develop an increased understanding of the marine domain and refine procedures to effectively respond to potential threats to the security of our maritime approaches.

“The Strait of Juan de Fuca is one of our busiest bits of ocean,” reiterates Rear Admiral Forcier. “Vancouver moves 66 million tonnes of cargo a year including over 1.5 million containers. Exercise Sea Barrier will enhance our ability to defend and protect our trade, and ultimately our way of life”, concludes Rear Admiral Forcier.

HMC ships Protecteur, Algonquin, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Whitehorse, supported by CH-124 Sea King helicopters from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, CP-140 Aurora Aircraft from 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron at Comox and a team of clearance divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) will participate in the exercise with U.S. Coast Guard ships Cuttyhunk and Henry Blake, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and RCMP and CBSA teams.  Training activities will include briefings, surveillance patrols, simulated explosives disposal, maritime interdiction and boardings at sea.

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