Canadian Warship Arrives in PH for Goodwill Visit; Ottawa offers satellite technology to detect dark ships

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14) – The Royal Canadian Navy warship His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa arrived in the Philippines on Thursday.

The ship’s arrival marked the start of a series of visits by Canadian ships this month. The guided missile frigate will remain in the Philippines until September 19.

HMCS Ottawa arrived from Japan and transited the Taiwan Strait before proceeding to Subic Bay in Zambales.

“Our transit to the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific demonstrates our commitment to a rules-based international order, and this is a physical expression of what we believe in,” said Samuel Patchell, commander of HMCS Ottawa.

Patchell said they did not experience any significant encounters or challenges during their cross-strait journey. They discovered only one Chinese Navy ship, but both sides conducted professional navigation activities.

“No significant encounters when we were out from August 14th, nothing significant,” Patchell said.

Two more Canadian ships are expected to come to the Philippines: MV Asterix, a relief supply ship, and HMCS Vancouver, which will arrive in Manila later this month.

Canada offers satellite technology to detect dark ships

Aside from increasing military presence in the region, Canada is in final negotiations on a satellite technology called Dark Vessel Detection.

“It is a space-based platform that provides officers with situational awareness and real-time updates on who is in your territorial waters. It is a very significant, very advanced technology, complex and multifaceted,” said Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartmann.

The technology will improve maritime authorities’ ability to detect foreign ships even if they turn off their automatic identification system transponders.

Hartman also said Ottawa is closely monitoring developments in the West Philippine Sea.

“Canada has unequivocally condemned the activities in the West Philippine Sea. The [2016 Arbitral Award] “The UNCLOS Convention is binding and final,” he added.