Naval warship back home after assisting with New Zealand quake

HMCS Vancouver has returned to base on Vancouver Island after a successful six-month deployment in the Pacific region.

The warship participated in a variety of exercises and visited several countries in the Asia-Pacific – and was on hand when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island on Nov. 14.

National Defence says the HMCS Vancouver was a key asset in supporting the relief efforts in Kaikoura, helping to repair damaged infrastructure and transport emergency supplies using the ship's Sea King helicopter.

Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance was on hand to welcome the ship back to CFB Esquimalt – praising the crew for assisting the people of New Zealand in their time of need.

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  Sailors aboard HMCS Vancouver wave to a crowd awaiting them at CFB Esquimalt on Dec. 14, 2016. The warship participated in a variety of exercises and visited several countries in the Asia-Pacific. (CTV Vancouver Island)

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  HMCS Vancouver in an undated file photo. On Tuesday, the Canadian frigate sailed through the narrow passage between China and Taiwan alongside the American guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins. (MARPAC)