International Stories

Winning Hearts and Minds - One Fish at a Time

By Lt(N) H. Diane Grover

The saying goes that if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day but if you teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. The fishermen who ply the waters of the Persian Gulf need no such instruction, however they do welcome any assistance in landing their catch. Such was the case when two members of HMCS Ottawa helped reel in some fish while conducting approach operations in the Gulf.

Credit:  Mcpl Robert Bottrill, Canadian Forces Combat Camera Boarding Party Officer, Lieutenant (Navy) Simon Nadeau (right) and ship’s diver Leading Seaman Andy O’Brien (left) aid LS Josh Tompkins as he boards a fishing dhow while sailing in the Persian Gulf.

Throughout the month of December 2006, the patrol frigate conducted approach operations in the Persian Gulf, one of several activities that comprise maritime security operations. This type of scaled-down boarding is designed to generate support and awareness amongst the vessels sailing in the Gulf of the coalition’s presence and efforts to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment, while also gathering intelligence on activity in the area.

“We alert them to our presence,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Simon Nadeau, Ottawa’s boarding officer. “It’s important that they know we understand the complexity of the situation and are here to help.”

Ever mindful of how they might fulfill this mandate, two members of the frigate’s boarding party, Leading Seaman Jules Charbonneau and Leading Seaman Richard Blanchard, saw an opportunity when they visited a fishing dhow in mid-December. With enthusiasm and the encouragement of the dhow’s master, they helped the crew catch some fairly big fish, much to everyone’s delight. Despite language differences, the sight of grinning Canadian sailors standing alongside equally bemused Indian fisherman sharing their bounty symbolically reflected the gains that the coalition has made in their efforts to control maritime activity in the Gulf.

The dividends from such an informal and non-confrontational stance are substantial. Sailors are more amenable to working with and supporting the coalition when they have positive first-hand experiences with the international fleet. They are also more willing to talk to members of the boarding party, sharing with them what they have seen and heard in the region. Such intelligence is invaluable and assists command staff in gaining greater knowledge about who is operating in the area and what they are doing.

 On another occasion, Ottawa encountered a dhow that was experiencing engineering trouble.    

Credit:  HMCS Ottawa Leading Seaman Jules Charbonneau and Leading Seaman Richard Blanchard pose with the catch of the day and crew of an Indian fishing dhow in the Persian Gulf after they worked together to catch fish.

“We always ask the master and crew if everything is alright and, in this instance, they told us about a problem they were having with their battery,” said Lt (N) Nadeau. “We sent over a technician who was able to diagnose the problem and provided them the information they needed to get it fixed when they returned to port, as well as a weather forecast.”

While such encounters may seem inconsequential in isolation, together they contribute to the overall maritime security picture. Averaging a dozen such approach operations a day in December, Ottawa has thus far conducted 103 approaches, each one a joint goodwill mission and intelligence-gathering operation.

HMCS Ottawa is sailing on a six-month deployment as part of a US-led coalition task force known as Operation ALTAIR. She is charged with controlling maritime activity in the region, which involves intelligence gathering and boardings. As a major shipping route, the Persian Gulf is a vital trade link susceptible to illicit activity, especially those that support terrorism. This deployment demonstrates Canada’s ongoing contribution and commitment to its coalition allies in the campaign against terrorism and proves the relevance of the navy in the new security environment.

HMCS Ottawa is the third Canadian frigate to deploy on Operation ALTAIR, and the twentieth ship to deploy to the region since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Over the course of these deployments, Canadian navy boarding parties have become international leaders in this field, revered for their tactics and training. Indeed, countries from around the world routinely approach the Canadian Navy for help developing their own boarding parties using the Canadian model.

Lt(N) H. Diane Grover is a public affairs officer onboard HMCS Ottawa.

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