Canadian Ships (HMCS) Moncton and Edmonton returned to Halifax Thursday , concluding a deployment to European waters with the Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) under 'Operation  Reassurance'.

From July to November, the two ships contributed to NATO’s maritime security and mine countermeasures efforts as part of the Operation Reassurance Maritime Task Force. Their crews, supported by embarked clearance divers and autonomous underwater vehicle operators, conducted mine countermeasures operations throughout the deployment. HMCS Moncton also hosted a Royal Danish Navy mine countermeasures team for more than two months.

The deployment brought Canadian sailors and specialist teams together with Allied personnel in support of maritime safety and regional stability. It also provided an opportunity for multinational cooperation, by joining the capabilities of Canada’s Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) with those of Allied mine countermeasures forces.

SNMCMG1 forms part of NATO’s continuous, high-readiness presence at sea. This deployment marked the fifth time Canada has contributed Kingston-class MCDVs to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Groups through Operation REASSURANCE, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to collective defence.