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VICTORIA, B.C. – The Chilean Navy supply ship, the Almirante Montt, appears on the horizon looking like a grey speck. But as it moves toward a jetty at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, the immense size of the vessel soon becomes apparent.

It takes almost 20 minutes for Chilean Navy Capt. Andrés Rodrigo to gingerly manoeuvre the ship, which is the length of more than two football fields, to the concrete structure jutting out from the shore.

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The Almirante Montt is the former U.S. Navy supply ship Andrew J. Higgins. The vessel was built in 1987 and mothballed by the U.S. in 1996. It was purchased by Chile in 2009.

Length:206 metres

Displacement: 42,000 tons

Speed: a maximum of 20 knots

Capacity: 20 million litres of fuel

Crew:150

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Canadian sailors on the jetty grab the lines thrown from the Almirante Montt, securing the vessel.

The ship is the newest recruit, albeit a temporary one, for Canada’s navy. Since early July, it has been going out to sea on refuelling and resupply missions for Canadian warships. “We’re here to help provide training and support,” says Rodrigo, who has 25 Canadian sailors on board.