Cdn warships arrive in Florida

Canadian Press via Sun Media ^

[Clive]

PENSACOLA, Fla. (CP) - A hurricane relief convoy of three Canadian warships pulled alongside a pier at a U.S. navy base in Pensacola on Monday after a six-day journey from Halifax.

The ships - HMCS Athabaskan, Toronto and Ville de Quebec - were carrying thousands of tonnes of relief supplies, everything from blankets and diapers to generators. They

will be in port for at least a day before heading farther into the disaster zone left by hurricane Katrina.

Lt.-Cmdr. Elissa Smith of the U.S. navy said the Canadians will likely be employed in shore projects such as cleaning up schools in Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss.

Smith said a Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the icebreaker Sir William Alexander, is en route and will have the task of restoring navigational buoys swept away by Katrina.

[Clive]

The navy ships are:

HMCS Athabaskan (DDG 282)
(Iroquois Class Area Area Defence Destroyer)

HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332)
(Halifax Class Multi-Role Patrol Frigate

Halifax Class Multi-Role Patrol Frigate

The Coast Guard ship en route is:

CCGS Sir William Alexander
(Light Icebreaker, Major Navaids Tender)

[Clive]

-

[RegulatorCountry]

What? They didn't arrive in 24 hours?

Why so "slow?"

[coconutt2000]

Sarcasm aside, we're all grateful for the help.

[dead]

I hearby announce a one-thread moratorium on making fun of Canada.

This applies only to myself, and the policy is subject to revision at whim.

[cripplecreek]

Thank you Canada.

[Clive]

Apologies for my clerical error:

The third Navy ship is:

HMCS Toronto (FFH333)
(Halifax Class Multi-Role Patrol Frigate)

[cardinal4]

Thanks for sending them..

[LachlanMinnesota]

Hey, I'll even take help from those stinking pig-dogs, puttuie...

[michigander]

How did they make it out of the ice pack??
Must be global warming.

[mtbopfuyn]

What? Six days? Why weren't they there sooner! It's Bush's fault! It's Brown's fault - oh, that's mute now. Someone must answer to this!

[colonialhk]

We should lift any duty on soft lumber asap to keep costs of rebuilding down. We are paying for European lumber these days to fill demand.

[556x45]

I thought I recall reading a year or two ago that most of their navy was mothballed due to lack of money. I thought there were only a couple ships left active. Oh well...

[ElkGroveDan]

A hurricane relief convoy of three Canadian warships pulled alongside a pier at a U.S. navy base in Pensacola

[556x45]

I thought I recall reading a year or two ago that most of their navy was mothballed due to lack of money. I thought there were only a couple ships left active. Oh well...

[michigander]

I thought I recall reading a year or two ago that most of their navy was mothballed due to lack of money.

Hmmmmm. That recent eminent domain ruling thingy may come in handy after all?

[LachlanMinnesota]

They were mothballed, silly...what do you think they are bring to New Orleans...we are going to moth ball that town until the weather turns nicer.

[toddlintown]

Canadian warships?

[CeDex]

I hearby announce a one-thread moratorium on making fun of Canada.

I agree. I've been reading some reports/interviews with some of their regular seamen on board ship. Sure, they've got medical supplies, diving teams, etc., but they're also prepared to do anything asked of them. The regular crews are eager to hit the ground running, digging through muck and debris, any nasty/grissly stuff like body recovery, whatever they're asked.

I consider this good, honest, APOLITICAL help from friends and neighbors, and for that: THANKS CANADA.

[layman]

everything from blankets and diapers to generators

Too late ... after six days without a diaper change I told my toddler she was on her own. Seriously though, I have always considered Canada to be family. Thank you.