HMCS Fredericton leaves Halifax on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. The ship and crew headed out on a six-month deployment and will join the standing NATO Maritime Group providing security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
As Evan and Bianca Entwhistle hugged, their 20-month-old son Finn sandwiched between them, it was hard to distinguish the tears from the rain.
"The sad part with this little guy is how much they change," said Bianca kissing her son on his curly red head.
"He knows when Evan's gone. I don't think in the long term he'll remember this but he'll be talking by the time dad gets home."
Entwhistle said he knows he signed on for the job - this is his third deployment overseas - but that didin't make it any easier.
"It's the first time I'm doing a trip like this with the little guy and I'm more concerned about how it's going to run back here," he said, acknowledging the help of military support services and what he called "a great circle of friends."
The Fredericton will be integrated into the standing NATO Maritime Group providing security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean until late April.
Cmdr. Steve Waddell said he had a lot to think about as captain of a navy ship about to leave on a lengthy mission.
"I'm thinking about the mission ahead, the weather today, just getting the ship off the wall safely, and about my own family on board," he said.
"This will be my fifth deployment to the area and every time I've gone it has been very much different . . . anything can happen so we have to be ready for anything."
The Fredericton will make a few diplomatic port calls before it arrives in theatre sometime mid-November where it will spend the first couple of months on anti-piracy duty off the Horn of Africa.
As he walked about shaking hands and wishing sailors well the head of the east coast navy, Rear Admiral Paul Maddison, said it was important that Canada contribute to ensuring the freedom of the seas.
"What we see happening off Somalia and the risks that are growing at sea we will see growing in other parts of the world," he said.
"This illicit activity puts pressure on the freedom of the sea which is so important to democratic countries like Canada because 90 per cent of the global economy floats."
Maddison said he believes the effort of like-minded navies over the past year has shown results. "With the navies that have been there since the problem really spiked in 2008 we have put a significant dent in the ability of Somali pirates to operate," he said.
"I am absolutely convinced that they were not as successful over the past year as they would have hoped."
Several dignitaries, including New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas, were on hand for the Fredericton's departure.
They offered best wishes and safe return to the ship that carries the name of the province's capital city.
Monday, October 26, 2009
DTN News: Canadian Navy Frigate Deploys On 6-Month Counter Terrorism Mission
DTN News: Canadian Navy Frigate Deploys On 6-Month Counter Terrorism Mission
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) HALIFAX, N.S. - October 27, 2009: Canada's latest contribution to the war on terrorism and piracy slipped out of Halifax harbour in driving rain Sunday on a six-month deployment to the Middle East.
Before it left, family and friends gathered on the deck and in the helicopter bay of HMCS Fredericton for a couple of hours to bid an emotional farewell to the 245 crew members who won't be returning until next spring.HMCS Fredericton leaves Halifax on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. The ship and crew headed out on a six-month deployment and will join the standing NATO Maritime Group providing security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
As Evan and Bianca Entwhistle hugged, their 20-month-old son Finn sandwiched between them, it was hard to distinguish the tears from the rain.
"The sad part with this little guy is how much they change," said Bianca kissing her son on his curly red head.
"He knows when Evan's gone. I don't think in the long term he'll remember this but he'll be talking by the time dad gets home."
Entwhistle said he knows he signed on for the job - this is his third deployment overseas - but that didin't make it any easier.
"It's the first time I'm doing a trip like this with the little guy and I'm more concerned about how it's going to run back here," he said, acknowledging the help of military support services and what he called "a great circle of friends."
The Fredericton will be integrated into the standing NATO Maritime Group providing security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean until late April.
Cmdr. Steve Waddell said he had a lot to think about as captain of a navy ship about to leave on a lengthy mission.
"I'm thinking about the mission ahead, the weather today, just getting the ship off the wall safely, and about my own family on board," he said.
"This will be my fifth deployment to the area and every time I've gone it has been very much different . . . anything can happen so we have to be ready for anything."
The Fredericton will make a few diplomatic port calls before it arrives in theatre sometime mid-November where it will spend the first couple of months on anti-piracy duty off the Horn of Africa.
As he walked about shaking hands and wishing sailors well the head of the east coast navy, Rear Admiral Paul Maddison, said it was important that Canada contribute to ensuring the freedom of the seas.
"What we see happening off Somalia and the risks that are growing at sea we will see growing in other parts of the world," he said.
"This illicit activity puts pressure on the freedom of the sea which is so important to democratic countries like Canada because 90 per cent of the global economy floats."
Maddison said he believes the effort of like-minded navies over the past year has shown results. "With the navies that have been there since the problem really spiked in 2008 we have put a significant dent in the ability of Somali pirates to operate," he said.
"I am absolutely convinced that they were not as successful over the past year as they would have hoped."
Several dignitaries, including New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas, were on hand for the Fredericton's departure.
They offered best wishes and safe return to the ship that carries the name of the province's capital city.
HMCS Fredericton leaves Halifax on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. The ship and crew headed out on a six-month deployment and will join the standing NATO Maritime Group providing security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
As Evan and Bianca Entwhistle hugged, their 20-month-old son Finn sandwiched between them, it was hard to distinguish the tears from the rain.
"The sad part with this little guy is how much they change," said Bianca kissing her son on his curly red head.
"He knows when Evan's gone. I don't think in the long term he'll remember this but he'll be talking by the time dad gets home."
Entwhistle said he knows he signed on for the job - this is his third deployment overseas - but that didin't make it any easier.
"It's the first time I'm doing a trip like this with the little guy and I'm more concerned about how it's going to run back here," he said, acknowledging the help of military support services and what he called "a great circle of friends."
The Fredericton will be integrated into the standing NATO Maritime Group providing security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean until late April.
Cmdr. Steve Waddell said he had a lot to think about as captain of a navy ship about to leave on a lengthy mission.
"I'm thinking about the mission ahead, the weather today, just getting the ship off the wall safely, and about my own family on board," he said.
"This will be my fifth deployment to the area and every time I've gone it has been very much different . . . anything can happen so we have to be ready for anything."
The Fredericton will make a few diplomatic port calls before it arrives in theatre sometime mid-November where it will spend the first couple of months on anti-piracy duty off the Horn of Africa.
As he walked about shaking hands and wishing sailors well the head of the east coast navy, Rear Admiral Paul Maddison, said it was important that Canada contribute to ensuring the freedom of the seas.
"What we see happening off Somalia and the risks that are growing at sea we will see growing in other parts of the world," he said.
"This illicit activity puts pressure on the freedom of the sea which is so important to democratic countries like Canada because 90 per cent of the global economy floats."
Maddison said he believes the effort of like-minded navies over the past year has shown results. "With the navies that have been there since the problem really spiked in 2008 we have put a significant dent in the ability of Somali pirates to operate," he said.
"I am absolutely convinced that they were not as successful over the past year as they would have hoped."
Several dignitaries, including New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas, were on hand for the Fredericton's departure.
They offered best wishes and safe return to the ship that carries the name of the province's capital city.
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