International Fleet Review in BC to Mark Canadian Naval Centennial

To mark the Canadian Naval Centennial celebration, the Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) will host an International Fleet Review (IFR) in Victoria, British Columbia from 9 to 14 June 2010. Thirteen ships from the Indo-Pacific Region are expected to gather at the Royal Roads anchorage in the approaches to Esquimalt Harbour.

Naval assemblies are colourful and impressive gatherings of warships to celebrate a national event. The history of naval assemblies dates back to 1773 when King George III reviewed the British fleet following the Seven Year War. In Canada, the 1985 assemblies marked only the sixth and seventh time assemblies have been held in this country.


Countries participating in this grandiose Pacific naval event hosted by Canada are: Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States of America.

The Canadian Coast Guard will present CCGS Sir Wilfred Laurier (photo) under the command of Captain William Noon. This ship is a light icebreaker built in 1986 by Canadian Shipbuilding, Collingwood, Ontario.

It is a multi-tasked vessel which carries out a wide variety of Coast Guard programs including, but not limited to; buoy tending, search and rescue, science work, light station re-supply, beacon maintenance, radio repeater site maintenance, and icebreaking/escorting, aids to navigation and science work during summer patrols in the Arctic.

Australia will showcase HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06) (photo) under Commander Justin Jones.

It is named after the city of Newcastle, New South Wales, the largest provincial city in Australia. It is also an Adelaide class guided missile armed frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). 

Constructed in Victoria and entering service in 1993, Newcastle is active as of 2009.

FS Prairial (F731) (photo) of France, under Commander Renaud Bondil, is a light monitoring of the French Marine Nationale.

She is the second ship of her class, and the second French warship named after the 9th month of the Republican Calendar.

Built in the beginning of the 1990s by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, she is currently based in Tahiti.

Japan will present JDS Atago (DDG 177) (photo) under the command of Captain Ohno Toshihiro and JDS Akebono (DD 108) under Commander Masyuki Nishimura.

As an Atago class guided missile destroyer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Atago was laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Nagasaki on April 5, 2004, launched on August 24, 2005; and commissioned on March 15, 2007.

JDS Akebono (DD 108) (photo), a Murasame class destroyer, is a third-generation warship classified by some as a large frigate.

New Zealand will display HMNZS Endeavour (A-11) under Commander David John Toms and HMNZS Te Kaha (F-77) (photo) under Commander M.C. Williams. 

Endeavour (A11) is the current fleet oiler for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). 

She is named after Captain Cook's Bark Endeavour and is the third ship in the RNZN to carry that name. Te Kaha (F77) is one of ten Anzac class frigates, and one of two serving in the RNZN. The name Te Kaha is Maori, meaning 'fighting prowess' or 'strength'.


The United States Navy will showcase USS Ronald Reagan under Captain Kenneth “KJ” Norton, USS Chosin under Captain David J. Sheridan, USS Sampson under, USS Ford under Commander Cord H. Luby, and USS Freedom under Commander Doyle.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered.
USS Chosin (CG-65) (photo) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.
USS Sampson (DDG-102) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
USS Ford (FFG-54), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Gunner's Mate Patrick O. Ford.
USS Freedom (LCS 1), the lead ship of the Freedom class of Littoral combat ships (LCS), is designed for a variety of missions in shallow waters, capable against submarines and ships, as well as minesweeping and humanitarian relief.

Finally, the United States Coast Guard will display USCGC Alert (WMEC 630) (photo) under the leadership of Commander Lee (Brad) Mynatt.

The USCGC Alert (WMEC-630) is the last 210-foot (64 m) medium endurance cutter constructed. The keel was laid on January 5, 1968 at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, and she was commissioned on Coast Guard Day, August 4, 1969. Alert derives her name from the early 19th century sailing ship Alert, which served in the Revenue Cutter Service under George Washington.


Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art in the portfolio of Belinka