St. Roch National Historic Site — Attraction in Vancouver

A police (RCMP) patrolling boat named St. Roch deployed in active sea for 20 years, built in 1928 at Vancouver and having many firsts like circumnavigation around north america through panama canal and navigating the northwest passage in a single season in both directions along with being first to travel the northern deep water route. It has been declared national historical site.

Details: ST. ROCH

Quick facts:

Length:

31.6m (104'5")

Width:

Power: 1928-1943 150 hp diesel engine & sails

7.6m (25)

1944-1954 300 hp diesel engine & sails

Draught:

3.4m (12')

In Service: 1928-1954

Displacement: 323 tons

Construction: St. Roch was built in North Vancouver in 1928 for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). It was a patrol and supply ship in the western Arctic and operated for more than 20 years. The ship is constructed of Douglas fir planks. To protect the wood from being damaged by ice, beams of Australian gumwood or ironbark is layered on top. The bow is also protected from the ice by metal plating. The saucer-shaped hull allowed the ice floes to slide under the ship rather than crushing it. Three ice beams located in the cargo hold braced the hull against ice pressure.

Purpose: Each year, the RCMP sailed St. Roch from Vancouver to the western Arctic. It was loaded with supplies destined for RCMP detachments. The ship often remained in the Arctic for the winter, frozen in the sea ice. The ship's crew spent the long winters, which often lasted more than 10 months, patrolling the surrounding communities by dogsled. Their duties included settling disputes and conducting a census of the Inuit. The Inuit are the Indigenous people of the Arctic

Historically Significant Voyages: in 1940, the Canadian Government sent St. Roch to establish Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic during World War II. The captain, Sgt. Henry Larsen, was ordered to sail St. Roch from Vancouver to Halifax. The trip through the Northwest Passage took 28 months. The crew spent 2 winters spent frozen in the ice. One of the 8 crew members died of a heart attack during this trip.

While in Halifax, several modifications were made to the ship. A new 300 horsepower diesel engine was installed. The rigging was changed from schooner to ketch, and new crew cabins and a wheelhouse were added. St. Roch returned to Vancouver in the summer of 1944, taking a more northerly route through the Northwest Passage. The crew of 11 made the 11,672 km (7,295 mile) trip in only 86 days.

St. Roch became the first ship to navigate the Northwest Passage in a single season. It was also the first ship to travel the northern deep-water route, and to sail the Northwest Passage in both directions. The crew members from both voyages were awarded the Polar Medal by King George VI.

Afterward: St. Roch continued to serve the RCMP in the western Arctic until 1948. In 1950, St. Roch became the first vessel to circumnavigate North America, sailing from Vancouver to Halifax by way of the Panama Canal. In 1954, St. Roch was decommissioned and purchased by the City of Vancouver. In 1958, the ship was towed to its present location and placed in the drydock. St. Roch was declared a National Historical...

As a log salvor I felt a little sorry for the tourists who had to listen to our family's cries of delight over the recorded wind sound-effects while my husband and our two children investigated the ship thoroughly, prying into cabins, reading cans of food in open cupboards, comparing the men’s foul weather gear with our own modern Helly-Hansen suits, gazing at realistically stuffed husky dogs and a walrus body on deck, criticising marine hardware, rope, tools, lamps and other items. I remember how oblivious the four of us became to the presence of others as we interacted and appreciated all these things from our vocal and personal marine perspective. A fascinating look into the past which I shall repeat with my grandchildren--also from a...

I went on a tour of the St. Roch the museum offers at different times. Groups are limited to 15 people and there was 3 tour times from which to choose. The guided tour was about an hour and the museum guide was knowledgeable and spoke well on all questions presented by our group. You are taken into all parts of the ship which are not open to the public during regular times wothout a guide. The whole museum is a fantastic place with more to see than I could take in in one afternoon. Definately a place to visit a few...