Latest news with #HMCSVancouver
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
North Shore man named commander of Canada's Pacific fleet
A man with North Shore roots is taking command of the Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet. Capt. Samuel Patchell signed on to the role in a change of command ceremony aboard HMCS Vancouver at the Burrard Dry Dock on Wednesday, taking over for Rear-Admiral David Mazur. Patchel said he looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead. 'I'm really humbled … it's a little emotional,' he said. 'I have an awesome responsibility to lead our Canadian sailors. It's absolutely incredible, the people, the best of Canadians serve in our navy. They need strong leadership and guidance. I'll do my best to support them, because the real hard stuff we're going to ask them to do needs strong leadership.' The long-serving navy personnel was born in North Vancouver and grew up in West Vancouver and even remembers delivering the North Shore News in 1989. 'I never would have imagined delivering the North Shore News and the guy here,' said Patchell, who now lives in Victoria. Patchell said he was inspired to enlist by his grandfather, a Second World War veteran who used to take him aboard visiting ships and tell him stories about his time in the navy. The new commander first joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2001. Patchell served as a navigating officer in 2006 and, two years later, specialized as a deck officer where he was deployed on Operation Hestia, Canada's humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Patchell has also served as the executive assistant to the deputy commander of United Nations Command in Pyeongtaek, South Korea in 2018. Shortly after returning to Canada, he deployed on a Canadian navy ship to the South China Sea, part of the country's Indo-Pacific Strategy. Patchell's promotion was not the only reason for celebration Wednesday. HMCS Vancouver was being honoured its own ceremony marking its service in Operation Mobile. The mission was the Canadian Armed Forces' contribution to the global response of the uprising against the 42-year rule of dictator Mummar Qadhafi in Libya. Battle honour awards are given to publicly recognize a ship's role in significant battles, campaigns and operations throughout history. Through the ship's deployment, HMCS Vancouver engaged in surveillance, maritime interdiction and embargo enforcement. Patchell joined the ship as the operations officer and was deployed on the mission. Commodore Bradley Alan Peats, former commanding officer of HMCS Vancouver, shared a snippet of what it was like being on the ship during that time. 'Night after night, the city was alight with explosions from artillery fire, the reverberations of which we could feel on board the ship as we patrolled the coastline. Along with other NATO forces, we protected airtime routes and ensured that supply ships and aircraft could reach the besieged city,' Peats said. 'It was profoundly sad and deeply humbling to bear witness to this tragedy unfold, but it was heartening that Canada, alongside our NATO allies, had answered the call to help people that long for peace and stability from a brutal and hostile regime. Peats said the Battle Honour for the ship is a mark of distinction and a symbol of the crews' courage, commitment and operational excellence. 'Behind every mission are the people who make it happen – sailors, officers, technician, air men and women, and support personnel who live the values of service before self,' he said. 'As a former captain, I can say with certainty that honours such as these are not about the steel of the ship. They are about the strength of her people.' During the ceremony, a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora flew over the ship in honour. HMCS Vancouver is one of the navy ships at the Burrard Dry Dock for Fleet Week, an annual event aiming to increase public awareness and appreciation of the country's maritime defence efforts on the West Coast. While there is no tour available for HMCS Vancouver, members of the public can book free tours for other ships nearby from now until July 6 . Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Post
30-04-2025
- Health
- National Post
Mould found in nearly half the Royal Canadian Navy's frigates
Mould has been discovered in nearly half of the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 frigates. Article content Cheryl Forrest, who speaks for National Defence, confirmed that mould has been found in five frigates, the most recent on HMCS Vancouver this year. Article content 'Small amounts of mould have been reported in two areas of high humidity on HMCS Vancouver recently and were quickly removed and the areas cleaned,' Forrest said in an email. 'This also resulted in enhanced inspections of similar areas of concern on the ship with no other mould areas reported.' Article content The other contaminated ships are HMCS St. John's in 2011, HMCS Calgary in 2018, HMCS Halifax and HMCS Charlottetown in 2019. Article content Article content While Forrest didn't mention it, a report from the Directorate of Force Health Protection released in 2018 indicates an air quality assessment aboard HMCS Winnipeg found higher-than-normal levels of mould spores in three compartments while the frigate was sailing from Tokyo to Hawaii in July 2017. Article content The mould was removed from 'affected frigates,' Forrest said. 'Technical enhancements were completed to improve air quality. If mould recurs, ships have been directed to clean and report it immediately.' Maritime and shipboard environments can be humid and warm, which makes them naturally prone to mould, she said. Article content The issue of mould in the Halifax-class warships made headlines recently when a Federal Court judge shot down a proposed class action case led by a former Royal Canadian Air Force captain who claimed 'dangerous levels of toxic mould' in HMCS Vancouver caused him serious ongoing health problems. The judge ruled Félix Dunn, an air combat systems officer who was stationed aboard the warship from June until December of 2016, couldn't sue the federal government over the mould issue because Veterans Affairs Canada had already compensated him for the same injury. Article content Article content Forrest said the military has developed an air quality program for the frigates 'to support a safe working environment.' Article content Article content 'This involves the Canadian Forces Deployable Health Hazard Assessment Team onboard a Halifax Class frigate each year for a period of two weeks to undertake an indoor air quality assessment throughout the ship. Collected samples are tested by an independent laboratory to determine if mould spores are present in a greater quantity than a sample of outdoor air reference sample.' Article content HMCS Ville de Quebec 'was surveyed (last October) and no significant mould issues were identified,' Forrest said. 'HMCS Vancouver has been selected to have this survey undertaken during 2025.' Article content Inspection and cleaning routines for the ventilation trunking, or ductwork in the frigates, happens on a five-year schedule, she said. 'Areas which are prone to high humidity (such as places where food is served and prepared, and washrooms) are inspected and cleaned more frequently (on a 12-month or a 24-month schedule).'
Vancouver Sun
30-04-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Mould found in nearly half the Royal Canadian Navy's frigates
Mould has been discovered in nearly half of the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 frigates. Article content Cheryl Forrest, who speaks for National Defence, confirmed that mould has been found in five frigates, the most recent on HMCS Vancouver this year. Article content 'Small amounts of mould have been reported in two areas of high humidity on HMCS Vancouver recently and were quickly removed and the areas cleaned,' Forrest said in an email. 'This also resulted in enhanced inspections of similar areas of concern on the ship with no other mould areas reported.' Article content Article content The other contaminated ships are HMCS St. John's in 2011, HMCS Calgary in 2018, HMCS Halifax and HMCS Charlottetown in 2019. Article content Article content While Forrest didn't mention it, a report from the Directorate of Force Health Protection released in 2018 indicates an air quality assessment aboard HMCS Winnipeg found higher-than-normal levels of mould spores in three compartments while the frigate was sailing from Tokyo to Hawaii in July 2017. Article content The mould was removed from 'affected frigates,' Forrest said. 'Technical enhancements were completed to improve air quality. If mould recurs, ships have been directed to clean and report it immediately.' Article content Maritime and shipboard environments can be humid and warm, which makes them naturally prone to mould, she said. Article content Article content The issue of mould in the Halifax-class warships made headlines recently when a Federal Court judge shot down a proposed class action case led by a former Royal Canadian Air Force captain who claimed 'dangerous levels of toxic mould' in HMCS Vancouver caused him serious ongoing health problems. The judge ruled Félix Dunn, an air combat systems officer who was stationed aboard the warship from June until December of 2016, couldn't sue the federal government over the mould issue because Veterans Affairs Canada had already compensated him for the same injury. Article content Article content Forrest said the military has developed an air quality program for the frigates 'to support a safe working environment.' Article content 'This involves the Canadian Forces Deployable Health Hazard Assessment Team onboard a Halifax Class frigate each year for a period of two weeks to undertake an indoor air quality assessment throughout the ship. Collected samples are tested by an independent laboratory to determine if mould spores are present in a greater quantity than a sample of outdoor air reference sample.'
Jordan Times
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Canadian warship in Taiwan Strait 'undermines peace', says China
This handout photo taken on October 20, 2024 shows the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, foreground, and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver, in background, sailing in the Taiwan Strait (AFP photo) BEIJING — A Canadian warship passing through the Taiwan Strait "undermines peace" in the sensitive waterway, China's military said Monday. Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from the Chinese mainland. The Canadian vessel passed through the strait on Sunday and was the first to do so this year, Taiwan's foreign ministry said, coming days after two US ships made the passage. Canada's actions "deliberately stir up trouble and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said in a statement. The army had dispatched its naval and air forces to monitor and guard the passage of the ship, Li said, adding that the troops would "resolutely counter all threats and provocations". Taiwan's defence ministry hit back on Monday, saying China was the "greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait". The United States and its allies regularly pass through the 180-kilometre strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering China. A US destroyer and an ocean survey ship travelled through the strait starting on February 10, drawing criticism from China's military, which said it sent the "wrong signal and increased security risks". Washington's latest passage through the strait was the first since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Taiwan's defence ministry, meanwhile, said it recorded 41 Chinese aircraft and nine warships near the island in the 24 hours to 6:00 am on Monday. Communist China has never ruled Taiwan, but it claims the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened to bring it under its control by force.
