St. Roch (ship) facts for kids
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The RCMPV St. Roch was a special ship used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). It was a type of sailing ship called a schooner. This amazing ship was the first to sail all the way around North America. It was also the second ship ever to travel through the Northwest Passage.
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean along the northern coast of North America. The St. Roch was the first ship to complete this journey from west to east (from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean). Another famous explorer, Roald Amundsen, had sailed the passage from east to west 38 years earlier in his ship, the Gjøa.
Most often, the St. Roch was captained by a brave explorer named Henry Larsen.
Today, you can visit the St. Roch at the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is open for people to explore and learn about its incredible history.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada |
|
| Name | St. Roch |
| Builder | Burrard Dry Dock Shipyards |
| Launched | 7 May 1928 |
| Status | Designated a National Historic Site of Canada at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1962 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Auxiliary Police Schooner |
| Displacement | 323 long tons (328 t) |
| Length | 104 ft 3 in (31.78 m) |
| Beam | 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) |
| Depth of hold | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Official name: St. Roch National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1962 |
Building the St. Roch
The St. Roch was built to be very strong. Its main body was made from thick Douglas fir wood. The outside of the ship had a super hard wood called "ironbark" eucalyptus from Australia. Inside, the hull (the ship's body) was made even stronger with heavy beams. This design helped it survive the crushing ice in the Arctic.
The ship was designed by Tom Halliday. He based his design on Roald Amundsen's ship, the Maud, which was also built for Arctic travel.
Adventures of the St. Roch
The St. Roch was built in 1928 at the Burrard Dry Dock Shipyards in North Vancouver. For many years, from 1929 to 1939, it helped supply and patrol Canada's Arctic regions.
First West-to-East Passage
In 1940–1942, the St. Roch made history. It became the first ship to travel through the Northwest Passage from west to east. This was a huge achievement!
Just two years later, in 1944, the St. Roch made another amazing journey. It became the first ship to make a return trip through the Northwest Passage. This time, it used a more northerly route, which many consider the true Northwest Passage. Even more impressively, it completed this entire journey in a single season.
After these Arctic adventures, the ship continued to patrol Arctic waters until 1948. On May 29, 1950, the St. Roch achieved its final major feat. It became the first ship to sail all the way around North America. This long journey started in Halifax, Nova Scotia, went through the Panama Canal, and ended in Vancouver. In total, the St. Roch completed three major voyages that made history.
St. Roch as a Museum Ship
In 1954, the St. Roch finished its service and was brought back to Vancouver. In 1958, it was placed in a dry dock at Kitsilano Point for restoration. This restoration helped inspire the idea for the Vancouver Maritime Museum, which opened the next year.
In 1962, the St. Roch was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a very important place or object in Canadian history. Even though the ship was moved indoors into a special building next to the museum, it was still managed by Parks Canada. Then, in 1995, Parks Canada gave full control of the St. Roch to the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Now, it's a permanent exhibit for everyone to enjoy and learn from.
Images for kids
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St. Roch at Vancouver maritime museum
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St. Roch at Vancouver maritime museum
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St. Roch at Vancouver maritime museum
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St. Roch at Vancouver maritime museum
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St. Roch at Vancouver maritime museum
