Weighing Anchor Aboard the Louis
We are enjoying sliced fresh melon and vegetable stir-frys in the middle of the Arctic—creature comforts well beyond what Canada’s early explorers would ever imagine. But there’s a close tally on the fresh fruit and vegetables this week. A food and parts order was to be loaded aboard the Louis last Sunday in Kugluktuk, – along with the Action Canada team – but it missed the flight from Yellowknife when the delivery truck broke down en route to the airport.
It’s just one of the logistical challenges that the crew of the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent confront in stride during their annual Arctic voyage.
As Captain Rothwell told us earlier this week, “we can’t just go to Canadian Tire to order spare parts.” Later, he likened the icebreaker to a space ship, noting that the ship has to be self-reliant—not just in supplies but also in fighting fires and coping with any other type of emergency.
Tuesday was the first of our sessions shadowing crewmembers as the icebreaker made its way out of Coronation Bay en route to Resolute via Peel Sound.
Splitting into three groups, Action Canada Fellows trailed the Louis’ crew in the engine room, on the deck, and through the ship’s warren of store rooms. Their guides for the week were, respectively, the Chief Engineer, the Chief Officer, and the Logistics Officer.
From the Chief Engineer, they learned about the ship’s propulsion system; its steering gear, fixed engines and outboards; refrigerators and freezers; and how to manage her fuel.
The Logistics Officer led a tour of the storerooms—the crucial reserves of food, parts and all supplies. Crew need mechanical parts to do their job, and good food is an essential ingredient for creating good morale.
The Fellows who trailed the Chief Officer had the opportunity to learn about navigation aboard the bridge, the flight deck and helicopter operations, and to examine the Louis’ cranes, winches and scientific instruments.
Wednesday, the Fellows were hands-on – learning pre-flight checks for the German-made MBB 105 helicopter, donning gear and preparing to fight fires, and operating the three different cranes on deck. They also learned how to tie knots, plot the ship’s course, keep track of the 23,000-item inventory, and take a hand at baking. A few Fellows proved adept—but, without further training, all will keep their current jobs.
We all welcomed the change of pace from our intensive policy sessions—from Captain Rothwell’s presentations on the Coast Guard, from our own northern experts, Col. (Ret.) Pierre Leblanc and Dr. Natalia Loukacheva, and from our background readings: the Institute on Research in Public Policy’s Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects in Canada’s North and the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute’s Canada & The Arctic Council Series.
Thursday evening, in a light-hearted attempt to show what they had learned from the excellent crew of our Coast Guard’s flagship ice-breaker, the Fellows presented skits and power point presentations demonstrating a day in the life of the Louis.
It was a small thank you to recognize the crew’s generosity, good humor and tremendous skill in teaching us the important job they do every day to serve Canadians.
