February 26, 2025 — Today marks a historic moment for the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Margaret Brooke embarks on its maiden voyage to Antarctica, the first time a Canadian naval vessel has ventured to the icy continent. Departing from Punta Arenas, Chile, the ship carries not only a crew of skilled sailors but also a team of 15 Canadian climate scientists and a CBC News team, including International Climate Correspondent Susan Ormiston, who is on special assignment to document this groundbreaking mission. As the vessel begins its journey to the bottom of the world, it promises to blend naval expertise with scientific discovery in a unique collaboration dubbed “science diplomacy.”
The voyage kicked off with the ship navigating the stunning Beagle Channel, a narrow waterway in southern Chile named after the British ship HMS Beagle, which carried a young Charles Darwin through these waters in 1833. Darwin, then a budding naturalist, marveled at his first glimpse of glaciers in this breathtaking landscape—a fitting historical echo for a mission focused on unlocking the secrets of a changing planet. Susan Ormiston, reporting from aboard the ship, described the mission’s dual purpose: “We are headed to Antarctica with HMCS Margaret Brooke, a naval vessel doing science diplomacy—a collaboration between the Navy and 15 Canadian scientists, experts in polar regions, who are doing two weeks or more of work in this icy continent.”
A Mission of Firsts
Commander Teri Share, the commanding officer of HMCS Margaret Brooke, emphasized the significance of this expedition. “This mission for the Royal Canadian Navy will be the first of any Royal Canadian naval ship to be heading as far south as we are right now,” she said. “This is also the first time on this class of ship that we’ve embarked this many scientists—15 from across federal and academic streams. We’re really spreading our wings and seeing how we can help support polar science as a whole, not just Antarctic but Arctic science.”
The Harry DeWolf-class vessel, designed for operations in extreme climates, is well-suited for this pioneering journey. The crew will assist the scientists by deploying small Zodiac boats to collect ice and water samples, drill ice cores, and measure raised beaches to assess sea level rise. This hands-on support underscores the Navy’s role in facilitating cutting-edge research in one of the planet’s most remote and pristine regions.
Unlocking Climate Clues
The Antarctic, often described as a “giant petri dish” for scientific study, plays a critical role in regulating global climate due to its massive ice sheet—the largest in the world. Yet, like its northern counterpart in the Arctic, this ice is diminishing at an alarming rate. Ormiston noted, “In February, we learned that the ice between the Arctic and Antarctic together was at a record low. These are dramatic changes that make it a prime time to go and get a baseline of what’s happening in the South and compare it to our knowledge of the Polar North.”
David Hik, Chief Scientist with Polar Knowledge Canada, highlighted the urgency of this work. “In March of 2022, there was a day when both the North Pole and South Pole regions were 40°C above normal,” he explained. “That’s still happening—in fact, it’s happening increasingly frequently, but it doesn’t make the news anymore. We should be very concerned that we’re normalizing these extreme changes in the coldest parts of the world.”
The scientists aim to gather critical data over their two-week stint in Antarctica, analyzing ice cores, water samples, and coastal changes to better understand the accelerating impacts of climate change. Their findings could provide a vital link between the polar regions, shedding light on global climate patterns and informing future conservation efforts.
Navigating the Drake Passage
Before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula, HMCS Margaret Brooke must cross the notorious Drake Passage, where the Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern Oceans converge in a turbulent, open expanse. Known as one of the roughest sea crossings in the world, the passage could bring waves as high as 12 meters, though the crew anticipates swells of up to 4 meters in the early morning hours of February 27. This challenging leg of the journey underscores the resilience of both the ship and its occupants as they push toward their destination.
A Collaborative Spirit in a Unique Political Landscape
Antarctica stands apart politically, owned by no single nation and governed by a 65-year-old international treaty that freezes territorial claims, bans military activity and mining, and regulates fishing to protect marine life. Commander Share emphasized the mission’s peaceful intent: “We don’t have any aspect of sovereignty down in Antarctica—that’s not our mandate here. We’ve done everything possible, short of painting the ship white and red before we left Punta Arenas, to make sure we’re seen as wanting to be collaborative and helping to support the science piece, not as a warship.”
This collaborative ethos aligns with Canada’s growing role in polar research, leveraging its Arctic expertise to contribute to global efforts in the Antarctic. The mission also strengthens ties with international partners, including Chile, where the voyage began, and reflects a commitment to advancing science in a region under increasing environmental stress.
A Front-Row Seat to History
For Susan Ormiston and the CBC News team, this assignment offers a front-row seat to a historic endeavor. “In a couple days’ time, we will be in Antarctica,” Ormiston reported, “and we will be with those scientists as they go about madly trying to gather as much evidence as they can to analyze the dramatic changes happening in the southernmost part of our world.” Her dispatches will bring Canadians along on this extraordinary journey, bridging the gap between the remote icy continent and audiences at home.
As HMCS Margaret Brooke sails southward, it carries the hopes of a nation eager to better understand our planet’s past, present, and future. This voyage is more than a naval milestone—it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, exploration, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge in the face of a rapidly changing world.