Canadian Coast Guard finishes Arctic operating season
Crews held exercises or were stationed in all 3 regions of Nunavut this year
A Canadian Coast Guard ship works on an environmental response exercise near Iqaluit this summer. The coast guard’s Arctic operating season has finished and its seven icebreakers have now headed south. (Photo courtesy of CNW Group/Canadian Coast Guard)
The Canadian Coast Guard and its seven icebreakers have finished their Arctic operating season and left the North, the federal organization announced in a news release Thursday.
The coast guard resupplies communities, carries out search and rescue operations, aids marine navigation and responds to marine environment issues.
The organization also operated its inshore rescue boat station in Rankin Inlet from June 29 to Oct. 25.
In August, it announced it had received funding to carry out upgrades to the station including hiring and training local crew members and extending the station’s operating season by one month starting next year. It will also get another rescue vessel in 2023.
The coast guard also carried out exercises in search and rescue as well as environmental response in Cambridge Bay with partnership from the Government of Nunavut.
In September, a newly formed environmental response team in Iqaluit carried out Operation Tasiujarjuaq, which practised the coast guard’s ability to respond to environmental issues when called upon.
According to the news release, during its 2022 Arctic operations coast guard icebreakers travelled a combined 40,561 nautical miles, provided 65 commercial escorts and worked on 31 helicopter-based reconnaissance missions.
While the Arctic operating season is over, the coast guard has permanent offices in Iqaluit. Its Arctic operations are scheduled to resume in May.
Thank you to all Coast Guards that worked tirelessly for us Nunavummiut to receive what we were expecting mainly vehicles! Plus food 👍🏼
It was awesome to see arriving in Rankin Inlet
I tracked it for week and a half
With the mention of traffic becoming more in the Arctic, noise, pollutant(s) etc.. with 7 coast guard vessels roaming around , makes me wonder if they’re part of the nuisaance to animals and environment, impacting our sensitive Arctic.
Thank you Coast Guard. Know that your work in the arctic is invaluable to us.
Good job and keep up the good work.