HMCS Montréal’s crew bid farewell to their families and friends during a departure ceremony in Halifax.

This was ahead of a six-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region where they will participate in international training exercises.

Crew members remained on board as the departure was delayed Sunday morning to repair a small mechanical issue discovered Friday.

The vessel was expected to depart later Sunday or early Monday.

In a release, Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand said, “Canada is a Pacific country, and the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region are of paramount importance to our future. By boosting our annual naval deployments from two to three frigates, Canada is reaffirming its commitment to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. As outlined in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada will continue to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. I wish our sailors fair winds and following seas.”