BOLD JOURNEY recounts the voyage of the CCGS Labrador, a Wind-class icebreaker, through the Northwest Passage in 1954.

Labrador set sail on her maiden voyage on 23 July 1954 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, bound for the Labrador Sea. Over the next summer the vessel worked her way through Canada’s Arctic archipelago from east to west, conducting hydrographic soundings, resupplying RCMP outposts and deploying assorted scientific and geological teams. Her rendezvous with her American sister-ships USCGC Northwind and USCGC Burton Island off the coast of Melville Island on 25 August 1954 marked the first time American and Canadian Government ships had met in the Arctic from the east and west. During the rendezvous, the crews visited with one another. The three ships surveyed the Beaufort Sea together until the end of September 1954, at which point Labrador headed for the base of Canada’s Pacific fleet at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Labrador then became the first large vessel to transit the Northwest Passage. Upon sailing down the west coast of the United States, through the Panama Canal and back to Halifax, Nova Scotia on 21 November 1954; Labrador also became the first ship to circumnavigate North America in a single voyage.

First commissioned on 8 July 1954 as Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Labrador (pennant number AW 50) in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Captain O.C.S. “Long Robbie” Robertson, GM, RCN, In Command. She was transferred to the Department of Transport (DOT) on 22 November 1957, and re-designated Canadian Government Ship (CGS) Labrador. She was among the DOT fleet assigned to the nascent Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) when that organization was formed in 1962, and further re-designated Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Labrador. Her career marked the beginning of the CCG’s icebreaker operations which continue to this day. She extensively charted and documented the then-poorly-known Canadian Arctic, and as HMCS Labrador was the first ship to circumnavigate North America in a single voyage.

This film, hosted by Jack Douglas, tells the whole story of the NW Passage trip — 66 days in length. At mark 1:45, Commander O.C.S Robertson- commander of the Labrador was invited to the program. He defines the Northwest Passage and explains the myriad challenges he faced, including lack of accurate maps. He also explains some of the rationale for the trip, including important questions of national defense.

At mark 4:20, we see Sorrel where the ship was built and commissioned. At mark 4:47, we have the crew loading up supplies for their voyage and expedition. On July 23rd, they sailed for the arctic just a short time after commissioning. At mark 6:04, they stop and make researchers, took salinity of the water, and some also made charts. At mark 6:45, they met their first ice berg 685ft high which was measured by helicopters. At mark 7:20, they reached Beechie Island. At mark 7:54, the ice becomes thicker from 6-13ft thick. When this happens they ram off the ice. The Labrador rides up on top of the ice and approaching creak habour was a slugging match. This went on day after day. At mark 11:56, the islands were marked, also magnetic survey. At mark 12:37, we have the crew returning from a survey and their boat was stucked, the water temperature was very cold here and it took about 2days to get the boat off.

At mark 13:30, they received a distress signal from a ship trapped in the ice and rescue team were made. Helicopters got a range of just 60miles.. At mark 15:33, the lost ship was found at midnight on the 21st of August. It was rescued and was able to follow behind the Labrador. After this, they headed westward to Banks island where they hope to pick up one of Stephasons caches which he left years ago. While searching for this, at mark 16:26, they found reindeers. At mark 17:15, they found it and helicopter was used in the pickup. At mark 19:20, we have the mother polar bear and her babies. Here they took experiment on how arctic weather affect the weather which was done based on heat. They then proceeded again and changed south again. It was a new kind of a voyage, 10,000 miles, a new ship, and 66 days. At mark 21:17, they fly their flag which shows the successful voyage and they were celebrated by their families. The commander talked on their achievements on the voyage at mark 22:20. The commander is now stationed in Washington and at mark 24:14, he was thanked for been available.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com