Beaufort Gyre Exploration Project | Cruise

Description
At 392.5 feet in length, 80 feet in beam, and over 15,000 tons deadweight, the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is the queen of the Canadian ice breaking fleet. She is homeported in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Mission
For over thirty years, Louis S. St-Laurent has successfully served as an arctic research platform for the international scientific community. In addition to her scientific duties, Louis S. St-Laurent has also provided escort and resupply services to isolated settlements and commercial operations in the arctic.

Crew
A typical crew complement is 13 officers and 33 crewmen. The crew is assigned to different departments, such as the operations department and the engineering department. The departments work together as a team to make sure the ship completes its missions efficiently and safely.

Icebreaking capabilities
Although Louis S. St-Laurent is capable of breaking very thick ice, rule number one in ice breaking is, “if possible, avoid the ice.” This is simply because it takes longer, consumes more fuel, and produces more wear and tear on the ship when battering through the ice. The most efficient way to break through ice is to find the weakest points in the ice, such as existing cracks or open areas called “leads.” When there are none, the ship will look for “first year ice”, which is often flat and 2-6 feet thick. As sea ice gets older it becomes considerably stronger, and changes color to a distinctive deep blue.

Construction
Louis S. St-Laurent was built in 1967 with a steam turbine propulsion plant. In 1989 she underwent a midlife refit, converting to a diesel electric system. Five huge diesel engines provide power for three shafts and propellers. The engines can produce 27,000 horsepower of power for breaking through the thick arctic ice.

Science
The ship has 11 laboratory spaces and berthing space for up to 53 scientists. The oceanographic winches and lab spaces give scientists the flexibility to conduct a wide range of research activities.