Two Canadian warships are returning to port in Esquimalt, B.C. after colliding during manoeuvres while en route to Hawaii.


No one was hurt, but a Defence Department statement says HMCS Algonquin sustained significant damage to her port side hangar while HMCS Protecteur sustained damage of a lesser degree to her bow.


The statement says the ships were conducting towing exercises, which require close-quarters manoeuvring, when the collision occurred late Friday morning.


The ships are expected to return to Esquimalt harbour this afternoon.


Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, said a Royal Canadian Navy Board of Inquiry would be convened to fully investigate the incident.


The Navy says that while the full impact on the ships' future sailing schedules has yet to be determined, HMCS Algonquin will no longer deploy to Asia Pacific region as planned.