Bob Auchterlonie News

The Canadian Navy Fleet Replenishment ship 'HMCS Protecteur' has been taken in tow in rough seas by  the U.S. navy cruiser USS Chosin, after an engine fire left it drifting some 600 km from Pearl Harbor, reports CBC News. Citing Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, the commander of Canada's Pacific naval fleet, CBC reports that the USS Michael Murphy, is accompanying Protecteur as the ships make their way at five knots or less [9 km/h] toward Pearl Harbor, 630 km away. In addition the fleet ocean tug USNS Sioux is also on station near Protecteur should problems arise.

HMCS 'Algonquin' and HMCS 'Protecteur' return to Esquimalt harbour following their collision while conducting exercise manoeuvres en route to Hawaii. There were no reported injuries. “The Royal Canadian Navy will be conducting an investigation into this unfortunate incident in order to determine exactly what happened,”said Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific. The two warships were conducting towing exercises, which require close-quarters manoeuvring, when the incident occurred.