SEATTLE — U.S. Coast Guard crews are participating in a multinational naval exercise with Royal Canadian navy and U.S. Navy crews off the western coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, through Friday.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Port Angeles, has been participating in underway Trident Fury exercises with U.S. and Canadian naval crews since May 3.
The operation, led by the Royal Canadian navy, is designed to test air and surface joint operations, and includes live gunnery exercises, maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare training.
“Operating with the U.S. and Canadian navies allows our crew to practice tactics, techniques and procedures in a controlled environment,” said Cmdr. Philip Crigler, commanding officer of Active. “Perfecting our interoperability during these training exercises ensures the success of our future joint operations while strengthening partnerships with our Canadian counterparts.”
More than 1,200 military personnel piloting seven vessels and five different types of aircraft participated in Trident Fury this year.
The biennial joint naval training exercise was developed by Canada’s Pacific Joint Task Force Headquarters to build a strong working relationship between the maritime forces of the U.S. and Canada.
Crewmembers from U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91101 in Seattle also participated in the exercise this week.