ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Coast Guard's largest icebreaker, the Louis St. Laurent, will leave St. John's, N.L., on Monday for the Arctic to support Canada's mission to survey the ocean floor.
Canada is one of five countries with interests in the Arctic basin and has until 2013 to make a formal claim.
The area is believed to be rich in oil and gas resources and Canada, the U.S., Denmark, Norway and Russia are all rushing to survey the area to make their claims.
Capt. Andrew McNeill says the icebreaker will be collecting bathymetric and seismic data and mapping the edges of the continental shelf in the western ASrctic.
The ship will work in the north until October when it will return to St. John's to carry out regular coast guard duties.
