RCN Commendation: CDR recently sent Halifax Correspondent, Jay Heisler, to attend a ceremony aboard CSS Asterix, where crew members were celebrated for their contributions to Op PROJECTION & Op SAVANNE.
Special Service Medal – EXPEDITION
January 16th was a proud moment for Federal Fleet Services and the crew of CSS Asterix. The reason? Asterix personnel received the Special Service Medal – EXPEDITION for their role in Operation PROJECTION while in consort with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and NATO allies during 2023.
The medals were presented by Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz during a special ceremony held in the Helo Hangar onboard CSS Asterix. CDR was present in the audience for the event, taking photos and had a chance to speak with members of the crew.
READ: CDR EMBEDDED – Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz
THE CRISIS IN SUDAN
In order to fully appreciate the importance of this ceremony, we must go back to 2023 to better understand the crisis that erupted in Sudan. On April 15th, 2023, fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, for control over the country. A global scramble ensued to get foreign nationals out of the country.
At that time there were approximately 1,800 Canadian nationals in Sudan, including both Canadian Embassy staff in Khartoum, and regular Canadian citizens.
A few days after the fighting erupted, Minister Anand announced that the Canadian Armed Forces would organize a rescue mission called Operation SAVANNE, which included evacuation by air and sea.
Both HMCS Montreal and CSS Asterix were already in the region deployed on Operation PROJECTION and as such were called on to help with the evacuation effort and CSS Asterix was the second international ship to arrive on the scene. During Op SAVANNE, CSS Asterix replenished Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Navy (UK), US Navy, Spanish Navy and French Navy vessels and helicopters involved with the evacuation. CSS Asterix was also pleased to accommodate the US Navy onboard who designated the vessel as the At Sea Command Platform for Task Force Red Sea.
In May 2023, after 229 hours off of Port Sudan and 1,910 nautical miles sailed on lookout, patrol and replenishment operations, CSS Asterix ended its deployment on Operation SAVANNE.
CEREMONY
The award ceremony gathering was brief but heartwarming, as one-by-one each sailor took the stage to be awarded by Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz. This included mostly sailors in uniform but also those in civilian dress. Afterall, the crew of CSS Asterix is made up of both RCN sailors and civilian crew members.
An announcement was made to honor a sailor who was too badly injured to appear for his award, and two who had since passed away. The families of the fallen were present to accept the awards. Worth noting: the deaths and injury were not related to work on the CSS Asterix.
The ceremony had a small crowd in attendance, sitting in a row of chairs side by side with the row of sailors waiting to receive their medals of service.
SPEAKING WITH CREW MEMBERS
“Highlights of the ceremony were meeting and reuniting with the crew that was onboard for Operation PROJECTION and Operation SAVANNE, as well as meeting the families of two shipmates that passed away in 2024,” Captain Andrew Powell told CDR.
“It was an honor to be recognized by Canada for the successful deployment and efforts of the crew and RCN in one united mission, while supporting our allies and partners,” Powell added. “During the time spent in theatre, it was always one team and one mission. The relationship between the RCN and civilian crew is always professional with the goal of defending Canada’s interests around the world.”
Powell had a varied career before reaching the Asterix. “As a merchant mariner I spent my first 14 years at sea on oil tankers that traded both on coastal and deep-sea routes,” Powell told CDR. “In the year 2000 I moved to offshore supply vessels where I would spend the next 21 years working in the offshore oil and gas fields off of Eastern Canada, the North Sea, North and West Africa.”
Powell sees his time on the Asterix as a highlight of his career working on various missions of importance to national security for Canada and the greater global community.
“The highlight of my career was joining the Asterix in 2021 as Chief Officer, and then promotion to Master,” said Powell. “To be able to say that I have participated in naval exercises that contribute to global peace is personally rewarding and gives me great job satisfaction.”
Jason Martell is Chief Steward of the Asterix. Martell said it was a surprise when the Asterix was turned around to serve in the Sudan mission, as it had been grabbed for being the nearest to the crisis when it unfolded.
“In simple terms, we’re on a voyage,” Martell told CDR. “We left from the Greek island of Crete on our way to Singapore. Everyone was watching the news and was aware of the deteriorating security situation in Sudan and how it was unfolding. When we were passing through the region, we didn’t really consider that we’d be part of it, because it was a land-based operation. Eventually, when command said we’d been tasked to help out… We were just like, oh… this is… this is new!”
Powell walked CDR through what the Sudan mission entailed. “The vessel spent nine days off of Port Sudan, while covering a total 1,910 NM of lookout and patrol duties,” Powell told CDR.
He continued, “The Asterix completed Replenishment Operations with the following vessels: HMCS Montreal – RAS x 4, HMS Lancaster – RAS X 1, USS Truxtun – RAS x 2, ESPS Reina Sophia – RAS X 2 and FS Lorraine – RAS X 1. We completed helicopter flying operations on 3 occasions (2 X HMCS Montreal Helo, 1 X USS Truxtun Helo) Fueling Canadian Strider with 3,100 litres of JP5 to allow transfer of 8 US Naval Personnel from Jeddah SA to CSS Asterix. Giving the US Navy the ability to use Asterix as an At Sea Command Platform for Task Force Red Sea (CTG 55.2).” Powell also noted, “Over 2,750 meals were prepared and served by the ships cooks and galley team.”
In attending the ceremony, it was evident, a real sense of community existed between those who served on the Asterix, including from the Navy and from the private sector.
FEDERAL FLEET SERVICES
CDR was able to have a sit-down coffee on the Asterix with John Schmidt, President and CEO of Federal Fleet Services. As most CDR readers will know, Federal Fleet Servies leases the CSS Asterix to the Canadian Navy – a provision of service model that has worked well for the RCN. “I was in my office in Ottawa when I heard about the mission in Sudan,” Schmidt told CDR. “We were delighted to be able and available to help. We immediately sent a message to the ship and said: whatever the Navy needs, if there’s anything we can help you with… Just let us know what resources are needed, including additional personnel or equipment.”
“I mean, we’re one family,” Schmidt added. “One ship, one team. And whether it’s RCN, whether it’s Federal Fleet Services, whether it’s Compass Group, we don’t go by those names. We go by: crew of the Asterix and our comrades. Former shipmates that had left for health reasons, we supported them while they were away, through visits, staying in contact, well wishes, doing what friends and colleagues would do.”
Schmidt said that the sailors who passed away were a huge loss for the Federal Fleet Services team. “When they passed, we stayed close to their families to make sure they were transitioning through the bereavement process,” Schmidt told CDR. “And so, it meant a lot to us to have their family accept the honor. Because again, we’re one team, and it takes a team to run a ship of this size.”
Schmidt took some time to explain the company attitude towards such deployments, and how Federal Fleet Services can best serve the Royal Canadian Navy.
“When the Navy releases something, it’s to showcase the work they are doing in defence of the country. Our message is a little bit different. Our message is: look what the private sector can do to assist the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly the RCN, and to be part of that capability, to help Canada meet its defence requirements.”
Overall, it was clear from the awards ceremony that the RCN is dedicated to serving Canadians, but moreover, that Federal Fleet Services is a reliable and trusted partner to the Canadian Armed Forces. Without the service of both RCN and civilian crew members, missions like Op SAVANNE would not be possible.
Much like the sailors of the RCN, CSS Asterix civilian crew members stand ready to defend Canada and proudly safeguard its interests and values whether at home or abroad. Ready, Aye, Ready!
Jay Heisler is CDR’s Halifax Correspondent
