Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

CCGS Saurel

CCGS Saurel was a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker. She was the first Canadian icebreaker to be built in Canada. She was designated Saint John Shipbuilding hull number 6, but work was subcontracted to Canadian Vickers as hull number 110. Upon completion in December 1929, Saurel attempted to prevent flood damage by breaking up ice jams on Lake Saint Pierre. As larger and heavier icebreakers later proved more effective on the Saint Lawrence River, Saurel assisted winter shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence until retired in 1967.

Last revised
Jun 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
173 w
Citations
8
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Saurel under construction in 1929
History
Canada
NameSaurel
Operator
BuilderCanadian Vickers, Montreal
Commissioned1929
Decommissioned1967
In service1929–1967
Stricken1967
FateScrapped 1968
General characteristics
TypeIcebreaker
Tonnage1,252 GRT1
Length200 ft (61 m)1
Beam42 ft (13 m)1
Draught19.3 ft (5.9 m)1
Propulsion
  • 2 × triple expansion steam engines1
  • 3,600 ihp (2,700 kW)

CCGS Saurel was a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker. She was the first Canadian icebreaker to be built in Canada.1 She was designated Saint John Shipbuilding hull number 6, but work was subcontracted to Canadian Vickers as hull number 110. Upon completion in December 1929, Saurel attempted to prevent flood damage by breaking up ice jams on Lake Saint Pierre.2 As larger and heavier icebreakers later proved more effective on the Saint Lawrence River, Saurel assisted winter shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence until retired in 1967.3

Citations

Citations

  1. Middlemiss, Norman. "Arctic Shipping and Trade Routes". Shipping Today and Yesterday. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. "May Keep Lake Saint Peter Open". Montreal Gazette: 13. 16 December 1930.
  3. "Bell Island Blockaded by Ice". Bell Island Submarine Miner. Dominion Wabana Ore Limited. April 1955.