Canadian, American, French, and Danish naval ships departed to participate in Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK

Above image: Motor Vessel ASTERIX and HMCS GLACE BAY conduct ship manoeuvers with HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC in the Labrador Sea during OPERATION NANOOK 20 on August 8, 2020. Photo: MCpl Manuela Berger, Canadian Armed Forces.

On August 4, naval ships from Canada, the U.S., France, and Denmark departed to participate in Operation (Op) NANOOK-TUUGAALIK in the Eastern Arctic waters.

Canada deployed frigates HMCS Glace Bay and HMCS Ville de Quebec, as well as supply ship MV Asterix, to show Canada’s presence and conduct multinational operations.

“Our annual contribution to Operation NANOOK demonstrates the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) commitment to the Arctic region and highlights our work in surveillance and security across all of Canada’s ocean areas. It provides a unique opportunity for us to work alongside and strengthen our security capabilities in the North,” says Captain(N) Martin Fluet, Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK Task Group Commander.

Maritime partners including, the United States Coast Guard (USCGC Tahoma), the United States Navy (USS Thomas Hudner), the French Navy (FS Fulmar), and the Royal Danish Navy (HDMS Triton), will be joining them.

“Our annual contribution to Operation NANOOK demonstrates the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) commitment to the Arctic region and highlights our work in surveillance and security across all of Canada’s ocean areas. It provides a unique opportunity for us to work alongside and strengthen our security capabilities in the North.” Captain(N) Martin Fluet, Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK Task Group Commander.

Op NANOOK is the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) signature northern operation comprising a series of comprehensive, joint, interagency, and multinational activities designed to exercise the defence of Canada and secure its northern regions.

Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK is the maritime deployment component of the NANOOK series of deployments and training events. It is designed as a maritime presence operation, contributing to the CAF’s maritime domain awareness of the seas in the Eastern Arctic.

Rear-Admiral(RAdm) Brian Santarpia, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, says, Op NANOOK provides an excellent opportunity for the Royal RCN to build interoperability between Canada’s principal partner nations engaged in Arctic security.

“It allows us the chance to foster multinational cooperation and trust, and achieve national training objectives aimed at building capable and adaptable maritime forces,” he added.

Due to restrictions put in place in relation to COVID-19, Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK 2020 will be a shorter deployment than in previous years, with no planned port visits, aside from Nuuk, Greenland for refuelling purposes or community relations taking place.

Unlike in previous years, the ships will not be visiting Nunavut. Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK 2020 runs from August 4 till August 24, 2020.