Canadian warship commander relieved of duty due to ‘loss of confidence’

HMCS Ottawa sails in the Philippine Sea on Nov. 20, 2023. (Combat Camera / Corp. Alisa Strelley)

The commander of a Canadian warship deployed to the Indo-Pacific region has been relieved of duty effective immediately due to “loss of confidence,” the Royal Canadian Navy announced Friday.

A brief statement from Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee says Cmdr. Adriano Lozer was removed from his command of HMCS Ottawa “to ensure effective leadership” of the frigate.

“The incidents that gave rise to this decision do not concern any form of misconduct,” Topshee said.

“Upon his repatriation to Canada, Cmdr. Lozer will serve in other roles within Maritime Forces Pacific,” he added. “Procedural fairness will continue to be respected throughout all follow-on administrative processes.”

Cmdr. Landon Creasy, the former commanding officer of HMCS Regina, will assume leadership of HMCS Ottawa until it concludes its deployment and returns to its homeport in Esquimalt, B.C., late next month.

The vice-admiral described Creasy as “an experienced naval officer.”

“As this is a personnel matter, no further information will be released at this time,” Topshee said.

HMCS Ottawa is currently deployed as part of Operation Horizon, the Canadian military’s mission to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The warship was in Manila on Thursday, according to online vessel-tracking software and a social media post from the Philippine Navy welcoming the frigate to the country.

HMCS Ottawa left Esquimalt for the deployment in October.