**** DND Media Release
Increased harbour movements and harbour/airspace restrictions during Halifax International Fleet Week and Exercise Cutlass Fury 2023
The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Atlantic fleet and visiting ships will be alongside Halifax, Nova Scotia to participate in Halifax International Fleet Week (HIFW) from September 7 to 10 and Exercise Cutlass Fury 2023 from September 10 to 22 off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Maritime Forces Atlantic wishes to advise the public of increased harbour activities and both harbour and airspace restrictions that will be in place throughout HIFW and Exercise Cutlass Fury 2023.
Public access restrictions within His Majesty’s Canadian (HMC) Dockyard and Shearwater Controlled Access Zones
Government of Canada-ordered Controlled Access Zones exist in several locations within Halifax Harbour. The purpose of these buffer zones is to ensure the safety and security of RCN ships and visiting forces’ vessels as well as Department of National Defence (DND) facilities and Defence Team personnel who operate within these zones.
From September 7 to 10, DND security boats will be closely monitoring the HMC Dockyard and Shearwater Controlled Access Zones for the safety and security of alongside RCN ships and visiting vessels. Members of the public, especially recreational watercraft users/operators, are not permitted entry into these zones. Persons and vessels who enter or exit the HMC Dockyard and Shearwater Controlled Access Zones without permission may on the demand of a DND security team member be required to submit to a search of their person or any property or thing under their control.
Commercial harbour activity will not be impacted by these controlled access zones, however Atlantic Pilotage Authority pilots are to contact 902-802-1799 or 902-489-5706 if passage through the Shearwater Controlled Access Zone is required. These restrictions will not impact public ship tours occurring at HMC Dockyard on September 8 and 9 and emergency services will not be affected.
Transiting vessels
Watercraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operators are to respect visiting nations’ unique safety and security requirements by keeping their boats and drones a safe distance from ships as they transit through Halifax Harbour.
Airspace restrictions for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
From September 1 to 26 inclusive, RPAS including micro drones will be restricted from entering the following airspace in the vicinity of HMC Dockyard and Lower Shearwater from surface to 1000 feet:
- Shearwater: 44 37 45N 63 31 35W // 0.5 nautical mile radius // 1000’ above mean sea level (AMSL)
- HMC Dockyard: 44 39 30N 63 34 24W // 0.5 nautical mile radius // 1000’ AMSL
As authorized by Transport Canada and in accordance with section 5.1 of the Aeronautics Act, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) have been issued to activate these RPAS-specific exclusion zones. Other aircraft and emergency services will not be affected by these airspace restrictions. Excluding police and fire operations, no other RPAS operations are permitted within the areas described unless authorized by Regional Joint Operations Centre (Atlantic), 902-427-2501.
Key movements in and around Halifax Harbour during HIFW and Exercise Cutlass Fury 2023
- From September 7 to 10 there will be increased harbour movements as visiting military ships arrive in Halifax.
- On September 10 there will be increased harbour movements as the naval fleet conducts a sail past from the Bedford Basin and along the Halifax waterfront. Simultaneously, there will be a fly past conducted by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
- From September 13 to 17 there may be an amphibious landing exercise conducted by the RCN and Canadian Army as part of Exercise Cutlass Fury 2023. Members of the pubic and watercraft transiting the harbour may observe increased small boat movements and land-based activity in that area.
- On September 22 there will be increased harbour movements as multiple RCN ships transit back to HMC Dockyard upon conclusion of Exercise Cutlass Fury 2023
