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HMCS Ottawa back from Asia-Pacific mission

HMCS Ottawa and its crew of about 200 sailors returned to their home port of CFB Esquimalt Wednesday after four months in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Family members and friends wait to welcome home the crew aboard the HMCS Ottawa before it passes Fisgard Lighthouse following it's four month deployment to the Asia-Pacific region.

HMCS Ottawa and its crew of about 200 sailors returned to their home port of CFB Esquimalt Wednesday after four months in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the deployment, Ottawa enforced the United Nations Security Council resolution against North Korea, visited four countries and participated in exercises with four other navies. The ship was also part of Operation Projection, where the the Royal Canadian Navy maintains a presence in the Pacific and Canada’s diplomatic commitment to international peace and freedom of the seas. Ottawa left on deployment on Aug. 6.

During its mission, Ottawa travelled over 33,000 nautical miles, intercepted 13 vessels, engaged in nine ship-to-ship transfers with partner navies, completed 89 days on operational patrol and took part in three exercises with vessels from other Pacific navies.

Also arriving at CFB Esquimalt Wednesday were two ships from South Korea, the first time in 10 years vessels from that country’s navy have been in the area. The Republic of Korea ship Munmu the Great, a destroyer, and the ROKS Hwachon, a fast combat supply and support vessel, both came alongside at CFB Esquimalt.

The visit for more than 200 Korean sailors is the last leg of a training mission for midshipmen. The ROKN 2019 Navy Cruise Training Task Group recently left San Diego and will go to Vancouver next.