A grand welcome [HMCS Charlottetown returns to Halifax after six months in Persian Gulf]

The Canadian warship HMCS Charlottetown returned to Halifax harbour under sunny skies Wednesday after completing a six-month tour of the Persian Gulf that was marked by a major illicit drug seizure and a rescue off the coast of Oman.

Hundreds of friends and family members carrying balloons and banners lined the military dock as the frigate was tied up on the west side of the sprawling harbour.

The Charlottetown's mission involved surveillance, boarding suspicious vessels and gaining intelligence on potential terrorist activity in a body of water that is key to the international trade of oil.

``It's been a very successful trip,'' said Cmdr. Patrick St-Denis, the frigate's captain.

``We were able to conduct over 103 approaches (and) nine operational boardings, leading to a discovery to over six tonnes of illegal cargo with links to terrorism.''

Navy commanders say the ongoing naval presence is vital in the area, despite criticism that the Canadian contingent has apprehended few terrorists since 2001.

The Halifax-class patrol frigate, with 250 crew and a Sea King helicopter aboard, participated in Operation Altair, part of Canada's contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom, the code-name for the American-led war on terror.

Since the first Gulf War in 1991, the navy has sent ships to the region more than 30 times.

Last month, the 300 sailors aboard the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Iroquois were dispatched for a six-month tour of the Gulf.

The destroyer joins the frigate HMCS Calgary and the supply vessel HMCS Protecteur as part of its mission.

Three months into the deployment, the frigate's crew seized almost four tonnes of hashish from the Pakistani vessel Al Moula Madad during a routine security patrol.

On Feb. 18, about 20 crew members boarded the traditional fishing dhow, finding more than 170 pillow-size sacks of hashish hidden in the fuel tanks and deck planks.

A Pakistani coast guard vessel apprehended the vessel and crew after the Charlottetown dumped the hash into the ocean.

Charlottetown was commanding eight coalition vessels and five aircraft off the coast of Pakistan at the time.

Navy officials said it was the largest drug seizure for the coalition participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Earlier in the month, two Pakistani men were rescued by the warship's crew after another dhow sank off the coast of Oman.

The men, first spotted by the ship's Sea King helicopter crew, had been drifting on a barge without food or water for at least four or five days.

It was the third time that Charlottetown's crew responded to emergencies in the Arabian Sea. The first two involved helping fishermen whose boats were either out of fuel or food.

Leading Seaman Alex Moore, left, holds his three-month-old son Hunter for the first time after the HMCS Charlottetown arrived in Halifax from a six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf. Rachel Moore, right gave birth to their son on Valentine's Day while Alex coached her over the phone from aboard the ship.
(DARREN PITTMAN / Staff)

And this also from the Herald-Chronicle:

Return engagement
Crew members of frigate, submarine have proposal, baby talk on their minds
By CHRIS LAMBIE Staff Reporter
Thu. May 8 - 3:06 PM
It was bended knee and babies when a submarine and a frigate returned to Halifax on Wednesday from long trips to different corners of the world.
Lt. Eric McCallum started things off by running off HMCS Corner Brook to propose to Amber Bissell, who he first met more than six years ago when they were students. He came up with the idea to propose during "long days on patrol" in the sub.
"I just couldn’t stop thinking about her," said Lt. McCallum, Corner Brook’s combat systems engineering officer.
He bought an engagement ring in Puerto Rico. But the proposal was a surprise for Ms. Bissell.
"I knew he was the one on the first date," she said. "I knew it was coming eventually."
On the night before Corner Brook returned from three months at sea, Lt. McCallum said he started worrying a bit about the proposal.
"I’m happy she said yes," he said as almost 60 crew mates cheered the couple from the submarine after he turned around and gave them the thumbs-up signal.
The sub spent 42 days patrolling the Caribbean looking for drug smugglers.
"We saw lots of ships, reported lots of things, but I really can’t get into any specifics," said Lt.-Cmdr. Chris Robinson, Corner Brook’s skipper.
Operating in warm waters has posed a problem in the past for Canada’s Victoria-class submarines.
But on this trip, the crew managed to keep the sub "not cool, but reasonable," Lt.-Cmdr. Robinson said, noting the average temperature in the living space was about 30 C, and it ranged between 50 C and 60 C in the engine room.
"One of the big successes of this trip was how well the boat performed in warm water," he said.
About an hour after the submarine arrived, the frigate HMCS Charlottetown returned from six months in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
Rachel Moore was waiting dockside with her baby, Hunter, who was born on Valentine’s Day. Her husband, Leading Seaman Alex Moore, coached her through labour using the ship’s satellite phone.
"He at least felt part of it; it was the best thing we could do," Ms. Moore said.
The sailor was obviously excited by the birth of his first child. He had the boy’s name tattooed on his forearm during a visit to Cyprus.
"It feels fantastic to be home," the sonar operator said as he cradled his baby in his arms for the first time and then held him up to show the cheering crew.
"He’s so cute. He takes after my wife, clearly. It feels great to see him."
Charlottetown left Halifax in November as part of Operation Altair, Canada’s maritime contribution to the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom.
"I’m very proud of the ship’s company," said Cmdr. Patrick St-Denis, the ship’s skipper.
"We’ve accomplished a lot conducting maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf."
The ship approached 103 vessels and the Canadian sailors boarded nine suspicious vessels during their stint in the area. They seized more than six tonnes of hashish, and saved more than 25 people stranded at sea.
The narcotics were destined to finance terrorism, Cmdr. St-Denis said.
Charlottetown was in-theatre for 133 days; 116 of them were spent at sea.
"We had the highest operational tempo of all coalition warships," he said.

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