CCGS Amundsen - CCGS Amundsen

CCGS Amundsen

CCGS Sir John Franklin was given new life in August 2003 after a consortium of Canadian universities and research centres, in partnership with the federal government, received funding for a dedicated Arctic Ocean research vessel.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation funded the conversion of the Sir John Franklin at a shipyard in Les Mechins, Quebec which saw part of the vessel's storage holds transformed into laboratory space. The refit also included the addition of a moon pool, which enables scientists to lower scientific instruments from inside the hull without cutting a hole in the ice.

The vessel was recommissioned into the Canadian Coast Guard as CCGS Amundsen in honour of Arctic explorer Roald Amundsen.

As part of the agreement with the educational and research institutions, the vessel is crewed by the Canadian Coast Guard which uses the ship in icebreaking service in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the winter months, after which she is free for research assignments from May–December.

The vessel is on the back of the new Canadian 50 Dollar polymer banknote.

In December 2011 a routine maintenance inspection discovered dangerous cracking in four of her six engines. The engines require immediate replacement, and she will not be available throughout 2012. According to the Star Phoenix scientists are "in shock" over the temporary loss of the vessel.