Photo: Contributed

The 240 sailors aboard HMCS Regina stepped onto home turf in Esquimalt on Monday after nearly seven months at sea.

HMCS Regina and MV Asterix, Canada’s civilian/military supply vessel, departed the Victoria-area base on Feb. 6 for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East. MV Asterix is headed to Halifax.

While away, the ships participated in Operation Projection, maintaining Canada’s presence in the Asia Pacific region.

HMCS Regina also took part in multinational operations. The ship was part of Operation Neon, helping enforce United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea.

In Middle East waters, HMCS Regina was part of Operation Artemis to deter terrorist smuggling of weapons and narcotics and to ensure safe passage for merchant ships in some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

HMCS Regina was also invited to be part of Talisman Sabre 19, a biennial Australian and United States exercise.