Amundsen icebreaker plans return to Canadian Arctic in 2013

The research icebreaker, Amundsen, seen here off Baffin Island in 2010, will be back in the Arctic during the 2013 season. (FILE PHOTO)

This summer will see the Canadian Coast Guard’s familiar red-and-white Amundsen icebreaker, named after Norway’s polar explorer Roald Amundsen, back in Arctic waters.

That’s after a routine inspection in December 2011 uncovered cracks in four of the six engine blocks which power the research icebreaker. The needed repairs took the icebreaker out of commission for 2012.

Repairs to the Amundsen started with engine repairs and the installation of new generators.

The $6-million repair job began last October in St. Catharines, Ont. at Seaway Marine and Industrial Inc. These repairs are now complete, in time to have the vessel back in full service for the 2013 summer Arctic season, a recent news release announced.

Through an agreement with Université Laval, the Amundsen was converted into an Arctic science vessel in 2003 and made available to the ArcticNet program for its scientific research.

On July 26 the Amundsen will leave its home port of Quebec City for an 82-day journey around the Canadian Arctic during which scientists on board will carry out marine-based research and work on the Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment program.

The repairs to the Amundsen are part of the Coast Guard’s fleet renewal program aimed at extending the life of 16 of its vessels.