The Department of National Defence says there’s no need for alarm if people hear sirens and that sounds of distant gunfire in the Esquimalt Lagoon area this week.
The Maritime Forces Pacific’s Naval Security Team is conducting training in the waters near Royal Roads from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
The training will include fast-moving patrol boats, blank ammunition being fired, and sirens and verbal commands being broadcast through loud hailers.
The military says the boats conducting the training will not come close to shore and that a “controlled access zone” will be set up to separate trainees from public boaters.
“Every effort has been made to limit the impact of this exercise on our neighbours in the surrounding community, but the need to simulate this training in a realistic manner is vital to ensuring our sailors are trained to the highest level,” said the DND in a release Tuesday.
The DND notes that it follows strict wildlife procedures, including pausing training if whales are seen in the area until they pass.
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Adam Chan
