ESQUIMALT, B.C., February 23, 2006 -- Domestic maritime security will
be the focus of an intergovernmental, bi-national exercise, named Sea Barrier,
running from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2 in and around the approaches of Esquimalt
harbour and the Juan de Fuca Strait. The Canadian Navy will join the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA),
Transport Canada, the US and Canadian Coast Guards as they work together in a
law enforcement scenario in order to test and improve coastal surveillance and
enhance interoperability.
"Safeguarding our ocean approaches is vitally important to our national
security. To deal effectively with a diverse range of national security
threats, including the threats of terrorism, narcotics trafficking and illegal
immigration, the Navy must maximize cooperation and collaboration with other
governmental departments and with our U.S. allies," says Rear Admiral Roger
Girouard, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. Barry McKee, Director for the
West Coast and Yukon district, CBSA, added: "Exercises like this are essential
as the federal government works to keep drugs off our streets and out of our
schools. Organizations like the RCMP, CBSA, the Navy, the Coast Guard and
Transport Canada play integral roles in this endeavour, and in a myriad of
other ways, in keeping our country safe."
Domestic maritime security requires a collaborative effort between
various governmental departments with maritime interests. Each department
conducts surveillance to gather information to fulfill their unique
departmental needs. This information is shared among the departments through
the Maritime Security Operations Centre (MSOC) to generate one unified and
comprehensive recognized maritime picture. The MSOC is the focal point for the
collection, analysis, fusion and exchange of intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance information in support of domestic marine security issues.
Since the stand up of the MSOC on Mar. 1, 2005 the coordination between
participating organizations has improved greatly and is resulting in an even
more cohesive Government of Canada maritime security effort.
HMC ships Calgary, Brandon, and Saskatoon will participate in the
exercise with Canadian Coast Guard Ships Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Tanu, the
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion, and RCMP and CBSA teams. Training activities
will include briefings, surveillance patrols, maritime interdiction and
boardings at sea based around a drug trafficking scenario.
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
Representatives from participating organizations will be available to
conduct interviews on Thursday, Mar. 2 aboard CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Video
and still imagery will also be available.
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Interested media are invited to contact:
Canadian Navy
Lt.-Cmdr. Hubert Genest
Tel.: (250) 363-2015
Transport Canada
Mr. Rod Nelson
Tel.: (604) 666-1675
RCMP
Cpl. Tom Seaman or Cpl Anthony Choy
Tel.: (604) 264-2929
Canadian Coast Guard
Mr. Dan Bate
Tel.: (604) 775-8809
Canada Border Services Agency
Ms. Faith St. John
Tel.: (604) 666-5492
US Coast Guard
Lt.Cmdr. André Billeaudeaux
Tel.: (206) 220-7223
Joint Public Affairs (Pacific)
Tel.: (250) 363-5789
Fax: (250) 363-5202
E-mail: marpac@shaw.ca
