Overview
Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) is responsible for maintaining multi-purpose, combat-capable maritime forces to conduct operations in Canadian waters and in support of national objectives primarily in the Pacific Rim Region but also anywhere in the world.
The domestic area of responsibility covers. 1.7 million square kilometres of ocean in the north eastern Pacific. When combined maritime operations are conducted in Canadian waters, as part of the defence of North America, the Commander MARPAC exercises control over Canadian and American maritime forces under a Canada/U.S. agreement. At the direction of CANADA COMMAND, MARPAC is the Commander of Joint Task Force (Pacific) with operation control over forces deployed in response to a domestic crisis.
MARPAC and Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) are supported by 1 Canadian Air Division aircraft based at 19 Wing Comox and 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Victoria Airport. The ships of CANFLTPAC undertake domestic and international missions. Nationally ships and aircraft patrol the 27,000 km of BC coastline in support other government departments such as the RCMP, Canada Border Agency, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada.
The Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) "Athena" keeps track of all shipping headed for the Pacific approaches to Canada. As required the MOC will transform into a National Marine Security Operations Centre jointly staffed by Canadian Forces and Civil Agencies responsible for national law enforcement.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center is responsible to coordinate search and rescue, both air and sea, for the Province of B.C., the Yukon and adjacent waters. The Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard are assisted by the civilian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association in the search and rescue mission.
The Commander MARPAC is also responsible for the Canadian Cadet Organizations in B.C. with about 7,000 Sea, Army and Air Cadets in about 130 Corps and Squadrons in 75 communities.
Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) mission is to generate and operate balanced, combat-capable multipurpose maritime forces on order from the Commander Maritime Forces Pacific to meet Canada’s defence objectives.
Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton is a strategic naval asset that exists to support the operations of the Pacific Fleet.
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt There are approximately 3700 military and 2800 civilians working at the base which covers over 10,300 acres
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