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Safeguarding the seaway

No time to idle about in summer!

In winter, the ERNEST LAPOINTE broke ice on the St. Lawrence River to clear the way for ships and prevent ice jams.
The ERNEST LAPOINTE performing a manoeuvre
1981.9.3, Donated by Onil Marchand, MMQ Coll.
In summer, there was no respite either for the vessel! The icebreaker helped ensure safety on the seaway, installing buoys and carrying out search and rescue missions.

Breaking the ice

When the ice was not too thick, the ERNEST LAPOINTE used its powerful propellers to break the ice by pushing it or to crush it.
The ERNEST LAPOINTE propellers are about three metres in diameter.
1993.17.3, Donated by Richard Gaudreau, MMQ Coll.
But to break thicker ice, the ship had to ride up onto the ice and crush it under its weight.
The ERNEST LAPOINTE breaking ice in the Sorel area
Armand Therrien Fonds, BAnQ Coll.

Listen to ice colliding with the hull of the D’IBERVILLE icebreaker.

No, you are not hearing footwear tumbling in a dryer! :-)