Two Royal Canadian Navy vessels, HMCS Shawinigan and HMCS Glace Bay, arrived back in Halifax on Thursday after the trips were cut short as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Kingston-class coastal defence vessels had departed Halifax in January for Africa on a four-month deployment as part of Operation PROJECTION.
They were meant to take part in a pair of exercises, Obangame Express and Phoenix Express, working to strengthen relationships with allies and connect with communities in Africa.
Both of those exercises, however, were cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Sailors aboard both vessels are considered to be free of COVID-19 as a result of their lengthy trip home.