HALIFAX -- Two Royal Canadian Navy ships arrived back in Halifax today after assisting with hydrographic surveying in the Canadian Arctic over the summer months.

HMCS Shawinigan and HMCS Moncton were also conducting sovereignty and surveillance patrols.

The commanding officer of the two vessels says the navy crews worked alongside staff with the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Parks Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Arctic Research Foundation during the seven-week deployment.

HMCS Moncton conducted 544 linear nautical miles of survey in Hudson's Bay, and visited the town of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut on Aug. 29.

The vessel Shawinigan conducted 809 linear nautical miles and visited the Hamlet of Arctic Bay, Nunavut on Sept. 6.

The Shawinigan also worked with the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier on a Parks Canada led search for the lost Franklin Expedition vessel Her Majesty's Ship Terror.