Icebreakers

Historical Background

The federal government has been providing icebreaking services since 1873 when Prince Edward Island stipulated year-round ferry service as a condition for entry into confederation. In the St. Lawrence River valley, annual winter flooding was caused by the formation of ice barriers in the narrow points of the river. In 1904, icebreakers were assigned to break up the ice at strategic locations in the river and keep the ice moving down the deepest channels. A benefit of the flood control activities was the opening of the river to winter navigation, and other than a few exceptional days during severe weather conditions, the river has been kept open year-round as far as Montreal since the late 1950's.

In the early 1920's, regular Arctic patrols by icebreakers during the short summer navigation season were initiated to respond to several needs, including the resupply of isolated outposts and native settlements and also backing up Canadian claims to sovereignty over the Arctic Archipelago.

Stanley 2 - one of the first icebreakers

Main Objectives of Icebreaking Program

• to ensure the provision, operation and maintenance of icebreakers, facilities and services to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic through or around ice-covered waters
• to support marine related activities and other government objectives, including sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic
• to minimize the effect of flooding caused by ice jams on the upper St. Lawrence River

A modern day icebreaker

Mission Statements (Key Result Areas)

The following 8 services are carried out by the Icebreaking Program:

Route Assistance
To escort ships separately or in convoy, to maintain tracks through ice-covered waters and to stand by for escort requests.

Ice Routing and Information Services
To provide ice information and reconnaissance services, and to manage ice operations centres.

Flood Control
To provide flood control in ice-covered waters where the federal government has traditionally accepted responsibility.

Marine Facility and Port Maintenance
To break out ice from wharf faces and harbour approaches in order to increase accessibility to shipping.

Fishing Harbour Breakout
To break out approaches and clear wharf faces in harbours, where the predominant commercial activity is fishing or is directly related to the fishing industry.

Northern Resupply Support
To coordinate the resupply of Northern settlements and military sites in accordance with the Treasury Board mandate.

Research, Development and Survey Support
To support scientific and data collection activities in ice-covered waters.

Sovereignty Support
To support the interests of Canadian sovereignty by maintaining an active presence in the Arctic Region.

The Henry Larsen - another modern day icebreaker

Support To Other Programs

In addition to the primary services defined in the previous section, the Canada Coast Guard (CCG) icebreaking vessels provide secondary support to other programs in ice-covered waters where they are often the only vessels capable of responding in those conditions.

Search and Rescue Program
Providing search and rescue (SAR), medevac and emergency assistance where ice coverage requires the attendance of ice-capable ships.

Marine Regulatory Programs (Ship Safety, Emergencies)
Responding to marine oil pollution incidents in ice-covered waters by providing the necessary resources for the department as lead agency in pollution clean-up in the marine environment.

Marine Navigation Services Programs
Placing, lifting or performing routine maintenance on fixed/floating Navaids in ice-covered waters. Resupplying lighthouses and marine installations during the ice season.

Description of CCG Icebreaker Classifications