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IQALUIT
Before the sealift can arrive, a first real sign of summer in Iqaluit is the arrival of the ice-breaker.

This Canadian Coast Guard Ship Des Groseilliers can hold enough provisions for 140 days and has enough fuel to travel 46,300 kilometres. Also on board is equipment which turns salt water into drinking water. -

The Canadian Coast Guard Des Groseilliers arrived in Iqaluit on July 4, and Nunavut News/North's Emily Ridlington went on board July 11 to learn more about the role of the Coast Guard in the Arctic.

During the winter, the icebreaker escorts ships in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. During the summer it escorts commercial ships, functions as an ice-breaker, maintains navigational aids and is involved in scientific research, including hydrographic surveys.

A crew change happened in the middle of the month and then the boat headed up to Pangnirtung and is scheduled to reach Resolute in late August.

Commercial boats cannot reach Eureka and Kugaaruk, so the icebreaker will take supplies to these two places.

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